Rooted in Kenya’s rich heritage—particularly of the Kamba people—Nyamai draws inspiration from traditions passed down to him by his mother and grandmother, and the dynamic rhythms of contemporary life in Nairobi. He uses the Kikamba language for his works’ titles, embedding traditional stories into his compositions. By incorporating historical and pre-colonial imagery, he demonstrates a profound connection to history, intertwining it with references to modern photographs and media in his works, highlighting the continuous dialogue and interplay between past and present.

Nyamai has shown his work across the globe in solo exhibitions at the Norval Foundation, Cape Town (2024); James Cohen Gallery, New York (2024); Galerie Barbara Thumm, Berlin (2023 and 2022); SEPTIEME Gallery, Paris (2019), and other venues. In 2023, he featured part of his series Dining in Chaos in the “Unlimited” section at Art Basel in Basel. He has participated in group exhibitions and biennials, most recently at the Sharjah Biennial 16, Sharjah (2025); The Völklinger Hütte, Völklingen (2024); the Kenyan Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, Venice (2022); the Dakar Biennale (2022); the Stellenbosch Triennale, Stellenbosch (2020); the Ostrale Biennale, Dresden (2019); and the Kampala Biennale, Kampala (2018). Some of the residencies in which Nyamai has participated include one at Gallery 1957, Accra (2021) and one at SAFFCA (Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art), Johannesburg (2019). His works are part of numerous private and institutional collections around the world, such as the Dallas Art Museum, the Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art, and the Arthur Primas Museum.