Mbongeni Buthelezi

After studying at the African Institute of Art and the Johannesburg Art Foundation, Buthelezi graduated with an advanced Diploma in Fine Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand. His education was followed by international residencies in Düsseldorf, New York, and Barbados, establishing a global foundation for his practice.

Born in KwaZulu-Natal and raised in Springs, Buthelezi’s work bridges rural heritage with urban existence. His semi-biographical series, such as “Childhood” and “Winter in Kliptown,” explore township life and historical memory. He is renowned for capturing atmospheric depth and emotion in a way that transcends the expectations of his medium.

Buthelezi has exhibited at major South African institutions including the Johannesburg Art Gallery and Everard Read. He represented South Africa at the 2007 Cairo Biennale, the Prague Biennale, and both Johannesburg Biennales. His international footprint includes exhibitions and workshops at the Museum for African Art in New York, the Royal States Theatre in London, and KAUST in Saudi Arabia, where he served as a pioneer in their 2017 Enrichment Program.