ARTIST STATEMENT
As an artist, I am deeply drawn to the rich culture and vibrant colors of Africa. My work focuses on creating abstract representations of African women, highlighting their strength, beauty, and resilience.
Through my brushstrokes, I aim to capture not just their physical presence but also the essence of their spirit and the power of their femininity. My paintings are a tribute to the African women I admire and a celebration of their courage and perseverance in the face of adversity.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Noleen Karumazondo was born and raised in the dusty streets of Harare, Zimbabwe, before moving to South Africa in August 2016. She lived in Cape Town for two years, immersing herself in diverse cultural activities that inspired her artworks and ideas. In June 2023, she relocated to the tranquil town of Calvinia in the Northern Cape.
Skilled in multiple mediums and art forms, Noleen specializes in murals, fine art, clothing customization, and portrait painting. Her work is featured in numerous private collections and collaborative projects with various businesses. Her signature style is characterized by vibrant colors, bold brushstrokes, and dynamic compositions that celebrate the spirit and beauty of African women.
Noleen studied Visual Arts at the University of South Africa. She has worked with Doctors Without Borders, painting murals about COVID-19 vaccination across Khayelitsha. In 2022, she was the only African artist selected by MSF Lebanon to create an illustration for World TB Day. Since early 2021, she has collaborated with Foschini, customizing clothing. Currently, she focuses on painting life-size, colorful portraits of African women.
She was commissioned by Professor Zanele Muholi from the Muholi Art Institute—one of her major inspirations. Her work is also featured in lodges, private homes, and businesses. Noleen’s artworks are exhibited in galleries across various provinces of South Africa, including Benguela Cove Gallery in Hermanus, Western Cape.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My artwork is based on interrogating and examine the human environmental , economical , social and political issues that challenge our world , aiming at unearthing the truth that disadvantage our society.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Fikile Mqhayi was born in Gugulethu township,Cape Town ,South Africa.Fikile graduated in Fine Arts from the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town in 2011.
He is a confident painter who has developed an idiosyncratic style that many artists take years to achieve. Using oil and acrylic paints, he renders everyday with sensitivity, and human condition with warmth and sympathy.
He currently lives and works in Delft, Cape Town. He has participated in a number of group exhibitions locally and abroad,to mentioning few; solo show -Khayelitsha kapkspunkilaisia,Helsinki,2017, Assemblage, at AVA Gallery Cape Town in 2018. Artworks of Mqhayi are included in the Nando’s Collection through Spier Arts Trust, Sam Hlengethwa’s Collection and Dr Tebogo Makube’s Collection.
Recent paintings in South Africa by Chris are mainly watercolor landscapes. One can see that trees, skies, water, and the world of nature are his abiding inspiration. He works in unusual detail but equally enjoys how watercolor sometimes takes on its own life and a painting takes unexpected directions.
While Chris is also a keen admirer of modern art forms and says that South Africans are exceptionally creative, for him, searching for and feeling the “soul of places” gives a deep sense of belonging.
In addition to sales in Norway and England, his works have sold in various galleries and exhibitions in the Western Cape. Chris, born in Cape Town, lived for 30 years in Norway and now lives in Durbanville. A pioneer ecological architect and environmentalist, he is the author of many books and research articles and is a widely traveled speaker. In addition to Norway, Chris has lived in countries including Spain, France, Taiwan, and Bhutan. He has also translated Tibetan Buddhist texts and is a keen organic gardener and musician.
Tertius van Dyk is a surrealist artist born in Overberg in the Western Cape, South Africa. An avid lover of trees, rocks, rust, and everything earthy, his signature motifs often feature trees and the moon set in desert-like landscapes. He also draws inspiration from the ocean, depicting whales from his hometown of Hermanus, as well as sharks and shipwrecks.
While his love for art has been lifelong, Tertius only pursued it professionally later in life, when it became clear that his work was not only deeply valued but also in high demand. Sometimes, our best dreams take time to be realized.
Tertius works in mixed media but primarily uses acrylic on large canvas formats. Of his art, he says: “I love wide open spaces, full of emptiness and peaceful solitude, and I strive to bring this forward in my art.” Drawing from the beauty of the African landscape, his imagination fuses seemingly mismatched elements to create surrealistic gems.
In a forgotten corner of the countryside, where the earth whispered tales of hardship and hope, there existed a small farmstead that was home to a group of children who bore the weight of responsibility with a grace far beyond their years. Orphaned by tragedy and bound by a shared sense of kinship, these children—Sophia, Lucas, Elena, and Mateo—found themselves thrust into the role of breadwinners, tasked with carrying on the legacy of their forebears and tending to the land that sustained them.
With a bond forged in adversity and a spirit that refused to be dimmed by the shadows of their past, the children rose each day with a determination that burned bright in their young eyes. Together, they toiled in the fields, their laughter mingling with the rustle of leaves and the songs of birds, a symphony of resilience that echoed across the rolling hills. Sophia, wise beyond her years, led the group with a quiet strength that belied her age. Her hands, once soft and delicate, now bore the calluses of hard work as she tended to the crops with a tenderness born of necessity. Lucas, the eldest of the group, stood tall and steadfast, his gaze fixed on the horizon as he plowed the fields with a determination that mirrored the
strength of the ancient oaks that stood sentinel nearby.
Elena, with her gentle touch and keen eye for detail, nurtured the delicate blooms that adorned the farmstead, her fingers weaving magic in the soil as she tended to the flowers that whispered secrets of beauty and resilience. Mateo, the youngest of the group, scampered through the fields like a sprite, his laughter a melody that danced on the breeze, a reminder of the innocence that still thrived amidst the toil and hardship.Through the changing seasons, the children worked as one, their hands joined in a symphony of labor and love that spoke of a bond stronger than blood. In the spring, they planted seeds of hope in the earth, their hearts buoyed by the promise of new life. In the summer, they battled the elements with a courage that knew no bounds, their spirits unbroken by the challenges that lay before them.
As autumn painted the landscape in hues of gold and amber, the children gathered the harvest with a sense of pride that swelled within their young hearts. Each ear of corn, each ripe apple was a testament to their resilience, a reminder of the strength that lay within them as they carried on the legacy of their ancestors with unwavering determination.
In a series of artworks capturing the essence of the children’s story, the artist celebrated the beauty found in the resilience of youth, in the unbreakable spirit of children who bore the weight of responsibility with grace and courage. Each spray of paint captured the quiet strength and unwavering determination that defined the children’s journey, a testament to the enduring power of love and kinship that bound them together in a tapestry of hope and resilience.
And as the sun set over the horizon, casting a warm glow over the fields that the children had tended with such care, a sense of peace and renewal settled over the farmstead, a testament to the enduring spirit of the child breadwinners and the legacy they carried within their young hearts.
Amelia’s passion and outlook in creating beautiful art pieces are drawn from the beauty of nature and its glorious colour palette. She has been an interior designer and artist for 30 years and is passionate about colour and textiles.
As a native of Zimbabwe and a resident in some of the world’s most stunning cities – including Sydney, London, Oxford and now Cape Town – her travels and experiences have coloured her perspective and outlook in all aspects of her work.
From designing her own range of vibrant, hand-woven fabrics, and turning her artwork into garments and products, to sourcing beautiful furniture and creating her own art to adorn any fine home, Amelia’s influences are brought to bear in an effortless, timeless fashion.
Amelia is able to translate her artistic vision into a tangible, wearable item. Whether it’s clothing, home decor or accessories. Each piece is unique and bespoke.
Lindsey Appolis has been weaving stories through his lens for over a decade. Born and raised in a vibrant neighborhood of Cape Town, Lindsey draws inspiration from the city’s rich cultural tapestry and breathtaking landscapes, presenting a unique perspective across his portfolio. From bustling streets to serene shores, his work showcases his versatility and deep connection to his environment.
Lindsey’s journey into photography began at a young age, driven by a curiosity to explore and document the world around him. Over the years, he developed a distinctive style characterized by vibrant colors, striking compositions, and an ability to capture raw emotion. His work spans various genres, including portraiture, street photography, landscapes, and documentary photography.
In addition to his ‘passion’ projects, Lindsey has collaborated with numerous local and international brands, with his photographs featured in publications and exhibitions.
Lindsey’s passion for storytelling goes beyond his technical skills. He approaches each photoshoot with a sense of playfulness and creativity, creating a comfortable environment for his subjects. He views every photograph as a narrative, a moment frozen in time. This philosophy is evident in his work, where every image invites viewers to pause, reflect, and connect on a deeper level.
When not behind the camera, Lindsey mentors aspiring photographers and contributes to community art projects, demonstrating his commitment to fostering creativity and the growth of the photographic community.
Lindsey Appolis continues to push the boundaries of photography, capturing the soul of Cape Town with every click of his shutter. His work is not just a visual feast but a journey through the diverse and dynamic world he calls home.”
Softly spoken and quietly accomplished, William Onker is a self-taught emerging artist who has made huge strides in both technique and observation in the 10+ years of his painting career. Sketching from a young age, William’s skill won him recognition and the annual art’s prize at the Kraaifontein school he attended. After school, he worked in the garden service sector, progressing to forest clearing and producing firewood. Now in his early forties, William has made painting his full time occupation and is a natural - his varied subject matter evidence of both the serious & light-hearted sides of his personality. In his enthusiasm, he has produced some 600 paintings over the past five years & participates in Cape Town’s ‘1st Thursday’ events.
Painted in acrylics, William’s ‘Township Series’ shows acute awareness, based on real life experience. With themes such as Tjaila Time (the return home at day’s end), Majoli’s Braai Brazier, early morning mist & late afternoon shadows over Khayelitsha, Langa & Gugs, he celebrates the colour & ritual of the humblest of settings, where life thrives beneath a mesh of overhead wires, satellite dishes & solar panels. With spontaneous daub and flourishing brush strokes, these landscapes sometimes verge on impressionism.
By contrast, the overall sunny vibrance of his ‘Vineyard Series’ displays a palette quite different to the cool township backdrops and symbolizes his transition to oils. The depth and wide vistas of these compositions, incorporating mountainous settings with several horizons, remote homesteads and warm autumnal shadows, stand as evidence of the artist’s versatility and artistic skill. More recently, William has proved equally competent at capturing cameos of life in his figure painting & portraiture.
In the collections of numerous South African & international art collectors and with works as far afield as Australia, America, the U.K. & Germany, he is an artist well worth investing in.
Art is my everlasting treasure and I draw from its infinite source. My art reflects my experiences of both rural and urban life. I use it to highlight social issues that confront our being. I fuse noticed and unnoticed moments with my paint and brushes as I use colours, figures and imagination that show satire in a way that will affect your heart and lift you to any kind of feeling.
As we often miss the basic principle of firm bases, my work comments and provokes on social issues that combine effects of urban, rural, poverty and inequality.
I normally use images of underprivileged children and vulnerable women who always seem to be the victims of ill situations. I comment silently yet reach unlimited boundaries.
The main aim and motive are to amplify the lament and agony of the ignored.
I work in oils on canvas. My art is surrealistic, evoking the spiritual and creating a dialogue with the viewer. In this manner I have the freedom of fusing different objects in one body of work.
I seek to trace and translate deep shadows on the walls of my subconscious mind, shadows which turn to be my shifting dreams behind my mind and in that world resonate a great deal of mystic melody. Then art becomes an instrument to vocalize those golden forgotten songs.
Mncedi Bodlo was born at Duncan Village in East London, he grew up as a shepherd in Transkei, he used to make human and livestock figures with clay almost every day after school, he also made drawings on the rocks near the river using small white, yellow and red stones.
Mncedi grew up with a deep passion for art; he then started experimenting with water colours, painting horses and landscape on paper. Mncedi is a self-taught artist and he never attended formal training in art, he attended courses in painting and drawing.
He started working seriously as a professional artist in 1997 with oil and chalk pastel as a freelance artist since 1998 till now. Mncedi has an articulate way of portraying rural and township life. He has done numerous paintings and murals commissioned by big companies such as Metrorail, Fleet Africa, TAC, Own Haven Housing Association.
His Street Kids Series later developed into what is currently themed - “The Dream Catcher
ARTIST STATEMENT
it’s not black - the Initial title was supposed to be “I kidnapped Rothko“ . in essence escaping my traditional Instinct of expressing myself through figurative art. These are daily scenes simplified to complementary shades of what may first appear to be black. As you get closer and the light reflects differently the shades do the same. What was once seen as just black is now more than that.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Mthetho Sono is a Cape Town/Johannesburg based visual artist ,he studied fine arts at UCT,Michaelis
School of Fine arts and hasn’t looked back since. His work is a mixed media balance of traditional art
elements and contemporary art movements. using a combination of form and subjective use of color to
create an exciting composition and narratives. Mthetho’s work covers themes and narratives of the human condition,spirituality and stories. The human condition is something we all suffer from as humans of a society like stress,anxiety,greed,betrayal. Including the mental spaces we often find ourselves in.
