The Art Limitless programme within the BE OPEN Art online gallery has announced Joe Mwakiremba as the August 2026 monthly winner, recognising his collaborative art practice that transforms discarded flip-flops into vibrant sculptural works.
Based in Kenya, Mwakiremba is part of a collaborative artistic initiative that works at the intersection of art, environmental conservation, and community development. Through the transformation of discarded flip-flops recovered from East Africa’s coastlines, the collective creates intricate, hand-carved sculptures inspired by wildlife as well as site-specific installations. Combining traditional craftsmanship with sustainable material practices, their work demonstrates the creative potential of upcycling while drawing attention to the global challenges of plastic pollution and biodiversity loss.
Throughout 2026, BE OPEN continues to highlight artists whose work reflects sustainable approaches to artistic practice. Each month, a winning artist is selected and featured in the online gallery, and at the end of the year, three artists will be chosen from the monthly winners by members of the BE OPEN community to receive monetary awards and increased international visibility from the BE OPEN Foundation.
We warmly congratulate Joe Mwakiremba on this achievement.