Mixed Media Artists

Role Overview

Java House is opening its doors to visual artists from across Kenya, inviting them to shape the look and feel of its outlets with original, culturally grounded work. The artists taken on will develop concepts, present designs and produce finished pieces — murals, paintings, illustration or site-specific installation — that respond both to the architecture of a particular location and to the everyday rhythm of a busy coffee house. The role sits where art, culture and customer experience meet: what you create becomes part of the atmosphere guests carry away with them.

Key Responsibilities

• Generate original concepts and artwork rooted in Kenyan culture, storytelling and contemporary creative practice.
• Produce sketches, colour studies, mood boards or digital mock-ups so proposed designs can be reviewed, discussed and refined before any installation begins.
• Translate an approved concept into finished work sized and suited to the designated surface, whether an interior wall, an outdoor façade or another agreed space.
• Select materials, tools and finishes appropriate to the setting, including surfaces that must tolerate cleaning, moisture, heat and heavy foot traffic.
• Plan and carry out installation on site, scheduling around trading hours and coordinating with outlet teams so guests and staff are not disrupted.
• Protect and tidy the surrounding area throughout the project, and leave the space clean and fully restored once each piece is complete.
• Photograph finished work to a high standard and hand over any care or maintenance notes the team needs to preserve it.
• Take part in review conversations, act on feedback and deliver agreed revisions within the project timeline.

Requirements & Qualifications

• A portfolio of completed work — murals, canvases, illustration, graphic or mixed-media pieces, or site-specific installations — demonstrating what you can achieve at scale.
• Proven experience delivering creative work against a brief or for a public space, carried through from first concept to final install.
• Confidence in at least one medium suited to large-format work, such as acrylic or exterior paint, aerosol, mixed media, or digital illustration used for design and pre-visualisation.
• Ability to work safely at height or on access equipment where a site requires it.
• A practical grasp of how artwork performs in indoor and outdoor hospitality environments, including lightfastness, sealing and ease of cleaning.
• Strong visual research skills and a genuine engagement with Kenyan art, heritage and cultural narratives.
• The self-discipline to manage your own schedule, materials and workflow across a commission, and the willingness to travel to sites in different parts of the country.
• Comfortable communicating in English and Kiswahili, and able to collaborate with both creative and operations teams.
• Formal training in fine art, design, illustration or a related discipline is an advantage, though a substantial body of work speaks just as loudly.

Why Join This Collaboration

• Your artwork goes directly into public view, seen daily by the guests, staff and passers-by who move through Java House locations across Kenya.
• You become part of a roster of Kenyan artists working with the brand, exchanging references, approaches and ideas with one another.
• The briefs are culture-forward — about expressing Kenyan creativity and identity rather than simply filling wall space.
• Sites differ in scale and setting, giving you room to stretch across formats, surfaces and locations.