Biz Lounge: How a childhood hobby turned into lucrative metal art business
Kamau Njoroge, an artisan who creates metal art.
Growing up, Kamau Njoroge knew he would pursue the arts, having drawn and painted since childhood.
Inspired by his father, an art and craft teacher, Kamau honed his skills with his father’s guidance and critiques.
Kamau later attended Kenyatta University to study Fine Arts.
In his second year, he and a classmate started a branding business.
Having run a successful business, Kamau developed an interest in metalwork in 2022. Lacking the necessary skills, he enrolled in a technical college.
"I joined Comboni Technical College for an artisan course in welding to learn how to create designs using metal. I also discovered many ways of creating doors and windows beyond the typical designs," he notes.
A sculpture of the African continent created by Kamau using scrap metal.
After graduating last year, Kamau started a workshop in Gilgil, creating artistic maps of Africa and motorcycles using scrap metal and waste.
"Currently, there are a lot of motorcycles in the country, resulting in more waste, which I use to make motorcycle and map art," he says.
Though his work and business are growing rapidly, Kamau also works at a company making stainless steel goods to enhance his skills with different materials.
"I decided to work at the company to hone my skills with various metal materials and improve the art I want to create," he says.
Kamau emphasizes the importance of continuous skill improvement, regardless of having a degree or diploma, to achieve one's aspirations.
Since venturing into metalwork, Kamau notes that his father has come to appreciate that art can be financially rewarding.
"My dad was sceptical about how art could be an income earner, especially after I completed university, but after seeing the reception of my metalwork, he appreciated it," he says.
A bike model that Kamau created from scrap metal.
One of the biggest challenges in his business is its resource-intensive nature, which has resulted in him getting materials weekly.
"I get materials from scrap metal yards weekly and have invested almost Sh. 100,000 in the business to purchase necessary equipment and materials," he notes.
Though the 31-year-old hasn't broken even yet, he sees a huge potential in the industry as many people are willing to purchase metal art.
Kamau sells his metal art for prices ranging from Sh. 1,000 to Sh. 100,000 per piece, depending on the materials used and the size of the art.
He is also working to incorporate small gift items like necklaces into his collection to make his art accessible to those with low purchasing power.
“I dream of building sculptures and monuments of Africa’s giants around the world to create beauty, opportunities, and ideas that help sustainably solve pollution and employment issues today,” he concludes.