Oftentimes, our lives are not a straight path to be followed. Yet life has clear milestones and a predictable endpoint. Many Kenyans can attest to their circumstances not being linear progressions.
Kiptoo Tarus who formerly worked as a banker in Kenya has successfully reinvented himself as an artist in the US. Kiptoo who hails from Baringo has made a name for himself abroad and has no regrets about his decision to move to Kentucky.
“I was a banker in Nairobi. I worked for a bank doing marketing while also attending art school,” he recalled.
He creates art that explores Kenyan and African history using sculptures, drawings, paintings, and installations.
While in art school, Kiptoo met a UK professor who specialized in sculpting. The professor, who was visiting Kenya for a vacation, was introduced to Kiptoo by his professors. This meeting changed Kiptoo’s career path and set him in a new direction.
“He spent two days in the studio with me, talking and critiquing my work. And then he mentioned graduate school.”
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Deciding to fully commit to his craft, Kiptoo left his banking job and applied to an art school 12,875 kilometres away. In 2015, he got his first big break when Lexington City commissioned him to create six sculptures displayed around town for the Breeders’ Cup.
“I mainly sculpted the human figure and those pieces were a series of hands,” he said.
Since then, his work has been featured in notable Lexington spots such as the Henry Clay Estate, Woodland Park, The Met, Horse Mania, and Old Friend’s Farm. His art, which reflects his Kenyan roots, has been warmly embraced by the city.
“Lexington is a receptive city that really appreciates art. This place has accepted me for who I am. It’s my second home.”
