Biograpy:
Johnstone Kimase is a celebrated Kenyan fine artist and contemporary painter based and working in Iten town,Elgeyo Marakwet County in Kenya,renowned for his expressive portraiture and vibrant composititions,his work beautfully captures African life,Cultural identity,resilience,and the richness of human emotion.
Born and raised by the christian familly-Kap-Elkana Cherono in Kapkitony village in Keiyo South Sub-county,Elgeyo Marakwet County..Kimase discovered his artistic talent at an early age while he was a pupil at Kapkitony Primary School,with the encouragement of his teacher,Julius Maiyo.He later pursued fomal training in fine art at the Creative Art Centre Nairobi,graduating with Diploma in Fine Art in the year 2001.
Over the years Kimase has built an impressive international presence through exhibitions,magazines features,he recently won the Gold Excellence Award at prestigious Van Gogh International Art Exhibition and Awards Jully-2026,the event ,themed"Beyond the Canvas" organized by Global First Women Fountation alongside the World Art Fair and the Artist's Registerand the prestigious Da Vinci Master Award Jully-2026
His artistic practice primarily focuses on portrait, humanity and global exprerience.His works have been featured in international online exhibition,art competition including the global online art exhibition 2026-Art for Peace and humanity,representing Kenya on the global platform.
AWARDS AND GLOBAL RECOGNITION:
*2026,jully:-Van Gogh International Art Excellence Award-Won Gold excellence Award.
*2026,Jully:-Da Vinci International art exhibition and awards- Awarded Da Vinci Master Award.
*2026: April:-Art for Peace HumanityExhibition,chosen to represent Kenya on global online stage focuses on promoting cultural unity-awarded with Honanary Exllence certificate.
*2025,December:-Word Artists Internatinal Magazine,profiled and .selected for artwork features.
*2024,June:-Malaysia International Art Competition-Ranked the top 80 award-Winning Potrait paintings globally at the IFAM Global event.
*2024,December:-Drawing Academy London.-won an online scholarship competition hosted by the UK-based academy.
*2023,February:-Xanadu Gallery Invitation:-Invited by Jason Horejs to submit his art pieces to Xanadu Gallery in Arizona,USA, formarketability analysis.
*2022,June:-Peace Advocacy Award:- secured first place in a natitional peace art contest funded by Kenya's National cohesion and intergration commission(NCIC).
2013-Recommendation from ministry of education after successfully handing over the portraits of key ministry officials.
2014-The county Government of Elgeyo-Marakwet acknowledged his art work after successfully handed over the portrait of the first governor Eng. Alex Tolgos and Prof. Margaret Kamar.
2015-He successfully handed over the portrait of the second president Mzee Daniel Arap Moi, a portrait that depicted youthful Mzee Moi when he was at his staff house in Tambach when he was a teacher in 1950 s
2016-Presented a portrait of the Former H.E First Lady Margret Kenyatta when she was preparing for London Marathon.
2021-Recognized by the Art worldwide platform with a certificate of authencity of his Art work entitled “ The home of Champions-Iten.”
2022-Participated in an Art Context sponsored by Kenya National Cohession and Intergration Commission (NCIC) entitled” let’s preach peace during and after the election period in Kenya ”and his art work was selected as the best and reimbursed Ksh 20,000.
2023-Special Invitation to submit his artwork to Xanadu Gallery, Arizona USA by Jason Horejs for comprehensive marketability and registration for Art business Academy.
2024-his artwork was listed among the top 80 award winning paintings in the category portrait paintings,at the Malaysia International art Competition (IFAM global).
2024-he won an online art competition for art scholarchip from Drawing academy London,united kingdom.
2025- His artwork has been featured in publication by the world artists international magazine-november edition by world art fair/world art media President Dr.Priya Yabaluri(phd).
