Mthandeni Gift Dlamini (Durban)
In their name Mixed media 74 cm x 53,5 cm Artist’s Statement In Their Name is a visual tribute to the 14 South African soldiers who lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) while serving in a peacekeeping mission. As an artist, I was moved to respond to the silence that […]
Karabo Dire (Johannesburg)
Self-portrait I: I love being me, it hurts Drawing pen on board 89,5 cm x 64 cm Artist’s Statement This self-portrait, rendered meticulously with a black fine liner using the stippling technique, is a meditation on the quiet complexity of introspection. Each dot serves as a moment of reflection- tiny, deliberate marks that collectively shape […]
Botlhoko Piet Diradingoe (Bloemfontein)
Why? Olive wood 39,5 cm x 75 cm x 41 cm Artist’s Statement The sculpture shows images of men lying down, which symbolises soldiers lying dead. It also speaks about unemployment, which kills the talents of our youth. The woman and child represent the abuse of women and children, and combine the story of soldiers, […]
Suné Deetlefs (Pretoria)
Holesale – multiples say cheese Found objects Installation: 234 cm x 250 cm x 250 cm Artist’s Statement The found object installation, Holesale (2025), consists of multiple yellow found objects, such as an umbrella, rackets, a pan, a book, cups, a teapot, and a yellow table. Objects are suspended in the air and balanced in […]
Asalondwa Conco (Johannesburg)
Indoda Tree bark 205 cm x 107 cm x 55 cm Artist’s Statement Indoda was inspired by a conversation I had with my father in 2023. As the fifth of his eleven children and his first daughter, he often calls me inkosazana kababa / “my princess.” In contrast, my brothers are izinkunzi / “bulls of […]
Njabulo Samuel Molombo (Pretoria)
Soshanguve Graphite pencil on Fabriano 30 cm x 47 cm ARTIST’S STATEMENT The drawing Soshanguve is about capturing the heart of a township called Soshanguve in Pretoria, and it’s the busiest and noisiest place. It clearly depicts both speeding and slowing cars at the famous robots and a junction that further emphasises that one has entered Soshanguve. […]
Thabo Treasure Mofokeng (Johannesburg) | 2025 Runner-Up
Still standing Acrylic on board 38 cm x 38 cm ARTIST’S STATEMENT My art is inspired by the resilience and courage of my neighbour, who, despite being paralysed from a gunshot wound, embodies a spirit that radiates like gold. His determination to live life to the fullest, without letting his physical disability define him, is […]
Lehlogonolo Bassie Gamaliel Modise (Pretoria)
Skirilek Ko Morena Oil on Masonite board 31 cm x 50,5 cm ARTIST’S STATEMENT I tell stories through the use of oil paint. I paint outdoors as I believe this provides me with the opportunity to capture the freshness of each moment and to interact with the people around me. My paintings are taken from […]
Leana Maré (Gqeberha)
The space between steps Acrylic on board 119 cm x 84 cm ARTIST’S STATEMENT The Space Between Steps explores the emotional dissonance of grief, trauma, and memory through a visual language shaped by illusion, gesture, and brutalist influence. Drawing from the stark architecture and sterile atmosphere of hospitals, her work uses rigid forms to symbolise […]
Nzaliseko Ntsika Maponye (Johannesburg)
Piety Bronze 24 cm x 30 cm x 20 cm ARTIST’S STATEMENT Piety is a sculptural work created in April 2025, crafted from cold bronze casting, resin, and finished with a faux patina. The piece features a cartoon-like figure that floats above a pedestal, supported by a rod, with a liquid-like form emerging from its […]