Velma Rosai-Makhandia (b. 1986, Nairobi, Kenya) is a student of the stars; she works across painting, photography, performance and curation, in a practice grounded by post-colonial Blackness, womanhood, African mythology, nature and personal narratives. Velma Rosai-Makhandia’s influences span African folklore, mysticism, African cinematography, and images from her own familial archives, which she uses to form fantastical and otherworldly scenes on her canvases.

Rosai-Makhandia has recently completed a residency at dot.ateliers, Accra, Ghana (2024), following others including: 50 Golborne Art Artist Residency, London, UK & Lamu, Kenya (2022-23), Poco a Poco, Oaxaca, Mexico (2021) and Ano Contemporary, Accra, Ghana (2018). Recent exhibitions include: Basel Social Club, Basel, Switzerland (upcoming, 2025), CONDO London 2025, Union Pacific, UK (2025), ever so present, dot.ateliers, Accra, Ghana (2024), This Is Not A Human Being, And She's Not A Spirit, UNREPD Gallery, Los Angeles, USA (2024), The Ways of my Serpent Mother Are Strange, Sarah Brook Gallery, Los Angeles, USA (2023), and Love Song, Sarah Brook Gallery, Los Angeles, USA (2021).