Local artist invites art lovers to his new studio
GRESSWOLD – Shabangu has worked with the likes of master printer Phil Sanders from New York at the Arts on Main studio.
Senzo Shabangu, a world-renowned artist, has relocated to Gresswold and he has invited art lovers to his new studio to view his latest inspiring artwork.
Shabangu moved to Johannesburg from Mpumalanga in 2006 to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot, however, he ended up studying printmaking at the Artist Proof Studio in Newtown.
“Although this was the beginning of my formal artistic training, I had been drawing on my own since childhood,” said the artist.
“In 2008, I was chosen to represent the Many Voices – One Movement Global Conference, for which I produced an edition of linocut prints for the conference attendees. My work was also selected to form part of the advertising for the World Art Summit at Museum Africa in 2009.”
In 2010, Shabangu was the recipient of the David Koloane Award and as a result, he engaged in a four-month residency at the Bag Factory, under the mentorship of Koloane and Pat Mautloa.
He said he began working on monotypes at the David Krut Workshop (DKW) at Arts on Main with printer Jillian Ross in 2010.
His monotypes depict scenes of the Johannesburg CBD and he often places city landscapes emerging from below and suspended above his characters creating an almost claustrophobic sense of being surrounded by the city.
Shabangu also deals with movement in the city and his works look at how people live and the politics surrounding forced removals.
He moved on to making linocuts in 2011 at DKW and he moved into the workshop on Jan Smuts Avenue as an artist in residence in preparation of his solo exhibition, Naked Pressure.
He continued to print at the workshop creating new works for his 2012 exhibition Amandla! at Arts on Main.
This was followed in 2013 by Obsession, his first show in the main gallery space on Jan Smuts Avenue, as well a concurrent exhibition in Cape Town, Recollection: Works on Paper.
In 2014, Shabangu worked with master printer Phil Sanders from New York at the Arts on Main studio.
He exhibits his works at the various art fairs such as Johannesburg Art Fair and at a group show of South African artists in the foyer of Carnegie Hall in New York City as part of the Ubuntu exhibition.
Shabangu is a firm believer in community work and in helping young artists achieve their dreams.
He is currently producing works in his new home and art studio and recently collaborated with a group of artists at a retreat in Knysna.
Details: sssenzos08@gmail.com or 072 041 0968.
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