Japhet Miano Kariuki, born in Nairobi, Kenya, is an art advisor whose unique skill set merges deep expertise in consulting, financial services, technology, and services. With a career spanning continents—Europe, America, and now Asia—Japhet brings a rich, synthesized perspective to the art world, focusing on the intricate interplay between extractive industries, finance, and services.
Japhet's journey into the art world began during his studies in Gent, where he developed a deep appreciation for Dutch and Flemish Renaissance painting, particularly the works of Pieter Bruegel the Elder and Rubens. His collecting journey started with European art and expanded to Chinese and Japanese scroll paintings and antiquities after studying Mandarin Language and Chinese Culture at the Confucius Institute at the Ateneo de Manila University. His expertise in the art world was further honed through arranging private sales for his HNWI clients, building and offloading their collections of highly coveted Filipino masters such as Juan Luna, Anita Magsaysay-Ho, Carlos “Botong” Francisco, Jose Joya, Ang Kiukok, and Arturo Luz. He is currently building his knowledge in African & Oceanic Art and its interrelationship with the global south.
He is the founder and owner of KAFELONE® in the Philippines and is currently involved with the World Energy Council’s Scenario Study Group. His diverse career includes roles in the extractive industry with OLLI Consulting Group Inc. (Philippines), oil and gas with Shell (Philippines), logistics with Deutsche Post DHL (Germany), financial services with BNP Paribas Fortis Investment Bank (Belgium) and Citibank (Kenya), and management consulting with Spatial Systems Architects (Kenya).
He holds an advanced master’s degree in financial management from Vlerick Business School (Belgium) and a bachelor's degree in economics and political science from the University of Nairobi (Kenya). Additionally, he has studied managerial economics, sustainability, and sustainable development at the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland), Harvard College (USA), and ETH Zurich Centre for Sustainability (Switzerland).
Japhet is a member of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Asia Solar Energy Forum, and the World Energy Council (WEC).
Japhet plays an intricate role in Art Agenda’s expansion into the Philippines, providing invaluable advisory services that help build and shape the business’s footprint in the region. His deep-rooted passion for Southeast Asian art, combined with his extensive experience and knowledge, makes him a pivotal figure in navigating the complexities of the art market.