( CNN ) -- Elson Kambalu does n't like to be shoehorned as an artist . Even in his early days , he refused to paint the usual `` traditional '' watercolors of African horizons and indigenous animal kingdom that attract tourists . Instead , he followed his own artistic path and today is one of Malawi 's most revered abstract artists . The 40-year-old dreamer has become a champion of the artistic landscape in Malawi , but has also founded Art House Africa , an artistic collective that connects painters and prospective clients . CNN sat down with the passionate artist and entrepreneur to discuss his roots and how he is inspiring enthusiastic creatives in his homeland . CNN : So how did you take that first step into the art world ? EK : I decided at the age of 28 to try my luck with a gallerist who was in the vicinity . I presented my works to him and he said : 'No , Elson , I do n't think this will sell in this gallery ... Most of the artists , they paint about the Lake , Lake Malawi , they paint about our highest mountain , they paint about our wildlife , because this is what the tourists want to take back when they are going home . ' And I said , we could try something different . And that 's what we did . Three days later he calls me and says that your work is gone . So that 's how it began , I never looked back . CNN : But you continued working as a loan officer until you were 31 . Was there a moment when you finally said : ' I want to be an artist ? ' EK : My break came one day . It was early morning in a toilet when this idea fell on my lap -- To create an art company that would work as a hub for artists . A company that would act as a link between artists and the corporate world . I had the business experience and the land was virgin . There were no art managers on the land and so I felt it would be good to work in that niche . My contract was coming to an end and I was being offered a new contract that would take me to another city . I declined and chose to take my own direction . CNN : How would you describe your artistic style ? EK : I am very contemporary , and versatile . I am not a conformist . I am able to move from one medium to another . I am a painter , I am a sculptor , I am a fashion designer , I am a graphic designer , I am a writer , I am a poet , I am a filmmaker . I am a conceptual artist , am an abstract expressionist . I do n't want to be identified with one form of art style . CNN : Are there any particular themes you like to showcase ? EK : As a visual artist , my past has had a strong bearing on me . Growing up in a big family equaled to lack of resources . The levels of want were quite disturbing , much more especially as I was approaching my teens . Suddenly I discovered that we were poorer than some families . I could not have or eat what I wanted . Those stories of poverty , of want , of freedom , of wanting to survive , have always been part of my subjects . I 'm interested in stories of fellow Africans before me who had much harder life . These stories inspire me to create art . I want to create a podium for discussions , in the process hoping to change mindsets and make life better for our future generations . CNN : Who are your artistic heroes ? EK : I think I 've been inspired by all these great artists . I 've been inspired by Salvador Dali , looking at his work . I 've been inspired by Pablo Picasso , I 've looked at the work of Jackson Pollock , quite beautiful . Rofko , wonderful , and even the young British artists of the 90 's . If you look at Damien Hurst , I 've seen works by Tracey Emming , and it 's all had a bearing on me as an artist . CNN : So what is the Malawian art scene like ? EK : I discovered that most of the artists were poorly managed . There were no managers in the arts sector . There is no art school in the country . So what was normally happening is they had the skill , they had this great talent amongst the artist , but they did n't know how to organize themselves . CNN : So you founded Art House Africa and then a few years later you opened a kids studio ... EK : We do n't have formal art schools and I thought well , this could be a very good avenue for the kids to come in and just prepare them . I think the most important thing in Malawi is the art education . It does n't necessarily mean that whoever enters an art class will be an artist . But they will make a good audience , or make a good client , because they know the kind of strenuous process artists go through to create whatever they are going to create . If we have the art education in our systems , then we have a community that would appreciate the arts . Learn more about Kambalu 's Art House Africa and find out what the versatile creative is moving on to next .
Elson Kambalu is a Malawian abstract artist . As well as being a prolific local artist , he has tried to foster the country 's artistic landscape . At 31 , he founded Art House Africa , a collective bringing artists and clients together . He also runs his own art studio in Malawi called The Studio of Art.