Ludumo Maqabuka

A painter, Ludumo ‘Toto’ Maqabuka’s portraits are likely to invoke different emotions due to the recurring theme of figure, be they social or political. Each painted figure and portrait invite the viewer into a world where the personal and the political intersect; personal stories converge to form a collective narrative of South African identity. Detailed mark making, vibrant solid colours, home-made stencils, spray paint, fabric and the influence of hip hop are used to bring character to the faces and create the overall mood of the work. The artist’s spontaneous processed surfaces create a unique graffiti type of abstract expressionism.

Born in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, Maqabuka currently lives and works in Johannesburg.