Naomi Wanjiku Gakunga is a Kenyan sculptor and visual artist whose work weaves together African craftsmanship, classical art traditions, and contemporary experimentation. Driven by a deep passion for storytelling, she creates visual narratives that honor the past, address the present, and envision the future. Her artistic practice celebrates experiences often overlooked by the Western canon, and she is committed to ensuring African women have a place in the world of contemporary art and society.

Born in Gacharage Village, Kenya, Wanjiku was nurtured in the arts of jewelry making, braiding, and weaving by her grandmother. She mastered the unique technique of creating yarn, known as migiyo, by twisting and braiding straws and shrubs. By infusing natural colors and beads into the yarn, she started redefining traditional weaving techniques, yielding fresh interpretations of jewelry, baskets, and textiles. 

Wanjiku holds an MA in Design from the University of California, Los Angeles and a BA in Design from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. Her work is included in the permanent collections of several institutions, including the San Antonio Museum of Art (US), National Museums of Scotland (Scotland), Museum of Textile (Latvia), Vehbi Koç Foundation Contemporary Art Museum (Turkey), the US Embassy of Nairobi (Kenya), Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center (US), Tulsa Bank (US), and The World Bank (Ghana).