Artist Spotlight: Wonder Buhle Mbambo

Header Image: "Umthobisi", 2020. Oil on canvas.

Growing up in the village of Kwangcolosi in Kwa Zulu Natal to a spiritual healer mother, artist Wonder Buhle Mbambo’s works are greatly influenced by the spiritual side of his culture. His figures are painted with a deep black color but are covered in golden flower-like shapes. The flowers represent the flowers often used in his mother’s practice, which are used to communicate with their ancestors.

Growing up in a rural village also influenced Mbambo’s figure works. With little to no light during nighttime in his village, Mbambo was surrounded by silhouettes of his fellow villagers, reflected in his dark figures with barely perceptible features. The dark nights also introduced him to the star-filled night sky, which Mbambo recreates by painting the golden flowers onto the figures of his portraits. Mbambo’s paintings are a celebration of his people and the village where he came from.

View more of Wonder Buhle Mbambo’s works on his Instagram.