Masonwabe is a 26-year-old visual artist, illustrator and textile design graduate who has captured South Africa’s heart with his modern heritage style of designing. Drawing inspiration from his Xhosa heritage and other South African ethnic groups, his work takes on the role of a storyteller, drawing on old tales to express the everyday life of ordinary black people.
His work explores rural lived experiences to emulate the richness, spiritual nuances, and heritage of the Xhosa people. It examines a common ritual in Xhosa culture known as the rite of passage or initiation of young men. The work also honors the matriarchies and strong women from which we descended, to name a few.
With his focus on highlighting the diversity of culture and the people of South Africa, Masonwabe’s work provides him a platform to showcase his art along with his unique perspective. The young creative’s work in the design field goes unnoticed as his collaboration with both national and international brands have helped him establish a reputation of highly anticipated collaborative projects.
