Kiptoo Tarus is a Kenyan-born visual artist and sculptor based in Lexington, Kentucky, whose work has become an integral part of the local landscape. Originally from Nairobi, he left a career in banking after discovering his passion for art, earning a BA in design and later pursuing advanced studies in sculpture at the University of Kentucky. Tarus’s big break cam in 2015 when the city of Lexington, KY commissioned him to create six public sculptures for the “Breeder’s Cup Classic” which was his first major public art commission that brought his work into the community view.

Tarus’s public and commissioned works include large-scale wood and equine sculptures and are showcased at places like the Henry Clay Estate, Woodland Park, and Old Friends Farm in Georgetown. These pieces reflect a blend of his Kenyan heritage and his deep engagement with his community in Kentucky. He’s also created meaningful pieces such as memorial sculpture honoring Breonna Taylor and several installations that invite public interaction and reflection.