Victor Peko

Victor had to work as a waiter for a couple of years after he graduated from art school. When the guests in the restaurant asked to have the menu he also handed them some of his small paintings. In this way he opened their eyes to his talent. He actually managed to get attention. Today he makes a way of living from art, but it is not easy. He owes money constantly around town because he has to buy materials and he is only able to paint to order, so that he is sure to have his costs covered quickly.

But there is no discussion about him as a choice of artist. He has always been artistic. As a child he was constantly drawing and making small sculptures out of wet clay which he would dig out of an anthill in the early morning. His parents could not pay his school fees, so he had to leave school after the primary years. He then went to his uncle in Kisumu and the uncle helped him to enter art school.

Today Victor is 31 years old and lives in the slums of Kisumu with his wife and their three children. He dreams of making a way of living by teaching children to draw and paint. He often spots young talents when he is visiting friends to watch television and then he tries to motivate the parents in supporting their child in making art.