Mustafa Abbas

From Mombasa to the World: Mustafa Abbas Paints a Hundred Unspoken Words

Born in Mombasa, Kenya, Mustafa Abbas discovered his passion for painting at the age of ten. Inspired by a grandmother who was an artist and a father who designed and crafted furniture, he inherited a legacy of creativity that continues to shape his artistic journey.
Mustafa’s paintings are created to make people pause, think, and question — each work carrying the weight of a message, the kind that turns a single image into a hundred unspoken words. Versatile by nature, he paints across a wide spectrum of subjects and styles: portraits, still life, murals, landscapes, seascapes, boats, and more. Beginning his career as a commission artist, he learned early how to adapt, absorb, and translate any idea into visual form — a skill that now fuels the depth and range of his creative voice.
His foundation in art began in primary school through craft classes, and later through four years of technical drawing and design in high school, where he developed precision, composition, and an eye for detail. After high school, Mustafa pursued degrees in IT & Communication and Interior Architecture, blending analytical thinking with creative expression. From there, he broke away from formal structures and continued teaching himself to draw and paint, developing an approach rooted in observation, intuition, and a fascination with mystery.
Over the years, his work has evolved across styles and mediums — from abstracts to portraits, and from acrylics to watercolour — reflecting both technical skill and imaginative depth. His professional experiences across Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, and Tanzania have broadened his perspective, grounding his artistic identity in a distinctly East African voice with a strong foundation in both technical and creative disciplines.
In 2025, Mustafa was selected for a prestigious international artist residency at Killruddery House in Ireland, an award organized by Tumaini la Maisha in recognition of artists supporting their mission for children with cancer in Tanzania. This residency stands as a testament to his growing international profile and the socially engaged spirit of his practice.
Mustafa Abbas continues to create from his studio, building a body of work that is both a personal exploration and a contribution to the contemporary artistic dialogue of the region.