Meet Umazi,
A Swahili woodcarver and environmental advocate whose practice transforms discarded and naturally fallen wood into contemporary sculptures, photography, and functional art.
Drawing from the cultural heritage of the East African coast and the ancestral carving traditions of Lamu and Zanzibar doors, her work challenges narrow ideas of beauty, value, and visibility while restoring the connection between people and the ecosystems that sustain them.
Through her creative process, collectors and audiences receive more than art, they become part of a regenerative vision. Her practice remains intentionally low-impact, using natural stains like mangrove dye while a portion of every piece supports community-led conservation efforts at the Kenyan coast.