Steve Harvey Recognizes Kenyan Artist after Impressive Pencil Drawing of the 'Family Feud' Host Went Viral

A viral portrait of Steve Harvey has come to the comedian's attention and he's now made an effort to meet up with the Kenyan artist who created it.

A Kenyan artist whose portrait of Steve Harvey went viral is about to touch base with the comedian who recently expressed interest in his artwork.

DRAWING HARVEY AND HIS ATTENTION

When Collins Omondi Okello began working on a pencil drawing of Harvey, he had hoped it would one day attract the “Family Feud” host’s attention. To achieve that goal, he tweeted his artwork in progress and encouraged others to retweet it and tag Harvey, hoping he would take notice.

Okello hopes to one day open a gallery that would provide opportunities for him and other artists to shine. But for now, he’s using social media as a tool to propagate his works.

The moment Okello finally completed the portrait, he shared it on Twitter and tagged Harvey with a special message for him.

“Complete! Pencil drawing of @IAmSteveHarvey. Will be a real boost to my hustle if you have this in your gallery. Waiting with bated breath.”

HARVEY RESPONDS

And in just a few days, Okello received a response from the comedian. Harvey retweeted the beautiful artwork and wrote, “Now I’m looking for you it would be my honour to have this..what size is it.”

The seasoned host added that he would be in the vicinity of Joburgh and Botswana soon and extended an invitation to “hook up.”

SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE PLIGHT OF AFRICAN ARTISTS

Harvey’s reply was a surprise to Okello who never expected it. “I’m positively blown!,” he told CNN. Okello was especially honored because where he’s from, artists don’t get much respect. He explains,

"Society doesn't respect art that much, especially in my country. It is my mission to change that perception with my small efforts."

MORE ABOUT OKELLO

Okello hopes to one day open a gallery that would provide opportunities for him and other artists to shine. But for now, he’s using social media as a tool to propagate his works.

The 30-year-old artist was formerly a finance specialist. He shifted to art as a profession after teaching himself how to draw. In 2014, he drew a portrait of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and it also went viral. He was later invited to the State House where he presented the artwork to the president.

WHY OKELLO MAY MEET HARVEY SOON

In won’t be long before Okello finally meets Harvey who often visits Africa lately due to his work for “Family Feud.” Harvey’s company, Steve Harvey Global partnered with Fremantle and for the rights to produce a licensed format of “Family Feud” in South Africa and Ghana.

It has always been Harvey’s dream to bring the popular game show to the African region. For now, he’s focusing on two areas but hopes to one day extend it across the continent.

“Family Feud” is set to begin airing in Africa by the second quarter of this year. Production already commenced in Johannesburg during the last quarter of 2019.