Kamau “Cartoon” Joseph was born in 1973 in Ngecha, outside of Nairobi. He first painted at the nearby Banana Hill Studio, and subsequently exhibited at Watatu and internationally. Historian Sidney Kasfir (in Contemporary African Art, 1999) describes him as an artist whose work “possesses an exuberance which is extremely difficult for formally trained artists to achieve.” He currently works from his home in Banana Hill and also from the Nuru Art Group, a studio he set up with other artists at Ruaka, Kenya.
In 1994, his first paintings were bought by Gallery Watatu owner Ruth Schaffner, and resold to a Japanese collector. Since that time, his international success has continued. German, French, and Korean collectors are amongst his customers.

The artist works with oil on canvas and draws his inspiration from women going about their everyday activities. “Cartoon has developed a style in which he divides the faces of his figures proportionately, employing a variety of colors which he says represent the many faces and tribes that make up the nation of Kenya.” (Gazemba In Msanii Magazine, Issue 18, 2007)

To date, Cartoon has held numerous solo and group exhibitions both locally and abroad. He also won a one and a half year Royal Art Scholarship in 2001, funded by the British Royal Family.

One of Cartoon’s paintings is featured on the cover of the 1999 Thames and Hudson book, Contemporary African Art.