Unmistakably Anna

There are some people whose work feels as though it could only ever have come from Africa. Anna Trzebinski is one of them.

Set within a tranquil garden at Anna’s home in Nairobi’s leafy suburb of Karen, the new Anna’s Atelier offers a world that is both deeply personal and unmistakably African. It is not simply a shop. It is an exquisitely layered expression of a life spent creating.

Everywhere you look, there is beauty: Maasai beadwork in every colour imaginable, feathered pieces that feel almost ceremonial, handwoven textures, and objects gathered over years of living, travelling and making. Nothing feels overthought. Like Anna herself, her atelier is elegant without trying too hard.

For as long as I can remember, Anna has quietly shaped a visual language that belongs entirely to this continent. Her work has always celebrated Africa not as a trend, but as a source of endless creativity, craftsmanship and soul. Long before 'African luxury' became fashionable, Anna was building a world around it.

What makes this new atelier so special is that it feels wonderfully alive. There are spaces to wander, corners to discover, stories stitched into fabrics and leather and treasures tucked onto shelves that make you stop in your tracks. It feels collected rather than curated. Personal rather than polished. And perhaps that is why it is so difficult to leave empty-handed. And you will be warmly welcomed by 5 dogs, 2 cats, 5 peacocks, chooks galore, guinea fowl, koi, a pair of resident crowned hawk eagles, ibis and turacos. Who needs to go on safari?

I recently spent a lovely morning there with Anna in her new atelier over coffee, with birdsong and people quietly drifting in and out. There is a warmth to the space that makes you want to linger. One moment you are admiring a spectacular necklace or jacket, and the next you are listening to stories about the artisans, the inspiration or how a particular object was created.

I asked Anna about her new Atelier.

'My dream for my atelier is that travellers and Nairobians alike would come to recognise it as a place to immerse in creativity and nature. See the atelier, artisans and craftsmen at work and enjoy the beautiful garden I landscaped. Even just come for a picnic, enjoy a glass of bubbles and support this unique, not-to-be-missed experience. I am so blessed to be surrounded by true artists.

All three of my children are incredible creatives. Tacha is still at school, but the older two have each created extraordinary working studios and are both such talented artists. Lana’s ceramics and Stas’ bronzes, furniture and two-dimensional creations make me feel an immeasurable sense of pride. Both of these extraordinary souls managed to transform their pain and trauma into beauty. When I look at their work, like their father, these are not creatives like me, rather, like true artists, they are blessed to channel divinity through those hands.

What Anna has created here is not simply a retail space. It is an invitation into her world. And in a world increasingly filled with things that look like everywhere else, Anna’s Atelier feels gloriously rooted in Kenya - creative, soulful, textured and full of character.

If you live in Nairobi, or are simply passing through, make time to visit. Go slowly. Wander properly. And prepare to leave, wishing you had bought just one more thing.

Angama is proud to partner with Anna Trzebinski in our Safari Shops at both Angama Mara and Angama Amboseli. Our guests are the best-dressed safari goers on the continent!

Anna’s daughter, Lana, shares the Atelier with her mother – her beautiful ceramics deserve their own story for another day.

The Atelier is open Monday through Saturday from 08h00 to 17h00

After hours, Sundays, and holidays, 100% open by appointment

Mwitu Road, House 20, off Ngong Road, Nairobi

+26 472 076 6877