From bright, whimsical illustrations to corporate and modern product designs, Karabo Poppy’s outstanding creatives are setting a new precedent for visuals.
The South African illustrator, street artist and graphic designer based in Johannesburg has broken canvas records and has managed to build a strong reputation for herself. Inspired by the African aesthetic, Karabo has worked with big brands such as Nike, Calvin Klein, KFC and NBA Africa among her clients.
Today, we look at what she has done and achieved in the past 5 years.
Soweto Tower Mural
It’s truly amazing to see how many talented illustrators are getting a worldwide stage thanks to the introduction of social media and digital marketing. Before social media and the internet, it was so much harder to get seen outside your own city, let alone your own country. But here’s something Karabo owns the bragging rights to, even if the internet was to get load-shedded (anything’s possible hey), she’ll still get local and international recognition – all thanks to her mural on the Soweto Tower. In 2018, the illustrator dropped jaws by announcing that her illustration is on one of the country’s most iconic landmarks.
Karabo Poppy X Utah Jazz
In the same year, 2018, November, KP also went on a trip to Utah in the beautiful Salt Lake City to do a 20-by-78-foot mural that fuses the artist’s South African roots with the passion and energy of the Utah Jazz.
Karabo Poppy Absolut Masterclasses
In 2020, during the pandemic lockdown, Absolut Vodka hosted their 7-week long online creative masterclasses. The masterclasses were hosted by the multi-talented illustrator, street artist and graphic designer Karabo Poppy Moletsane and the award-winning multimedia visual artist Trevor Stuurman.
The creatives who specialise in different art disciplines, all had insightful gems of knowledge and tips to share with the viewers. These creatives included Keith Vlakahis, Russell Abrahams, Lauren Mitchell, Seth Pimentel, Nikiwe Dlova, Zhi Zulu and Leigh Le Roux.
‘Home Sick’
In 2019, Karabo Poppy got to create customised Nike Air Force 1 collection. Not 1, not 2 but 3 Air Force 1 designs.
”Running Errands” With Rich Mnisi
In the year 2020, Rich Mnisi collaborated with the illustrator for their new “Running Errands” collection. The capsule collection combined different artistic styles intersecting multiple identities just as complex as our country with diverse people and cultures puzzled together.Mai
Main image: Youtube
