Samantha Maseko
Born in Boschfontein, Mpumalanga, Samantha Maseko is a contemporary artist currently based in Johannesburg. In 2020, she successfully completed a Transformative three- year printmaking course at Artist Proof Studio.
Maseko’s work serves as a poignant exploration of black femininity and identity, weaving together narratives through various mediums. Her artistic arsenal includes Oil painting, collage, Assemblage, Printmedia and mix media.
Drawing inspiration from her roots and modeling experience, her art challenges societal norms by scrutinizing elements like hair, skin colour and the black
body inviting viewers into a nuanced conversation about the multifaceted aspects of the black experience. Her artistic voice has been recognized through various group exhibitions and notable opportunities, including being awarded the Female Exchange Residency in 2024. Additionally, she was recently commissioned to create a portrait of Angie Motshekga, Minister of Education, in honour of her retirement.
Kesaobaka Sephoti
Kesaobaka Sephoti is a 22 year old photographer, filmmaker and director from Johannesburg. The camera is an instrument that teaches an individual to see the world without one and once he realised this, he became one. The process of his practice revolves around memory and the use of images as a reflection of the world. The ability to capture space and time as it had been witnessed, has taught him that he holds great responsibility in his ability to reveal what the world has failed to see. The impurity in the work is equally as important as his need to eradicate it in the world. As he has grown though, he has come to accept that human nature is flawed and the recollection of memoirs he has collected seem to carry that smudge. The next chapter of his life involves following his true desires of becoming a filmmaker and his studies at AFDA, where he pursues a Bachelor of Arts in Motion Picture are a step in the right direction.
dylan gordon
My name is Dylan Gordon and I'm a self-taught artist hailing from Pretoria, South Africa. I am 23 years old, and I have been practicing as an emerging artist since 2019.
My work is mostly surreal in nature, dealing with themes of love, justice, nature, prejudice and the plethora of emotional states we as people find ourselves in - such as depression, euphoria and the collective anxiety we experience moving through an era marked by unprecedented and rapid change, especially within a South African context. To name a few. These themes manifest in images which draw heavily from the subconscious hence their surreal and bizarre nature. I work mostly in ink, graphite, watercolors, gouache, charcoal and in etching. I find these mediums are best suited for encapsulating the meticulous and intimate detail of my work.
My method and philosophy when approaching my work is very much similar to how it came to be that I decided I wanted to be an artist. Which was through a subconscious desire and necessity, or urge to create and to record and process what is happening around me and the world. Art presented itself to me in a time of confusion and chaos as the most true and favorable way to process and cope with my emotions and the world around me. At the risk of sounding cliché, art has always been a calling from a young age. My Mother being a teacher, and my father being a graphic designer I have been very fortunate to have the encouragement to pursue this path.
Maingaila Muvundika
Maingaila Muvundika is a Zambian visual artist and photographer whose work explores how different demographic elements of a community inform how people interact and navigate within the wider community. Through costuming and the production of sets, Maingaila produces staged photographs that are deeply personal and observant. His practice probes aspects of individuality, fashion, beauty standards, spirituality and belonging as a discovery into how identity and sense of self is shaped.
Maingaila was a participant in the Canva Represents Fund, designed to seek out, support, and champion talented artists from underrepresented communities around the world. He was one of 53 photographers selected to be part of the second edition of Africa Foto Fair. Maingaila is currently a mentee of Through The Lens Collective, an African Photography platform.
Rishi prag
Rishi is a 25-year-old photographer, born in Cape Town. While a master’s degree in environmental science takes up most of his time; photography, music and filmmaking is the creative outlet that has been present throughout most of his life. What started as capturing everyday moments with other
creatives and friends, has evolved into documenting the melting pot of different sounds, community and musicians within the Cape town underground live music scene.
