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Named as one of 2020s Rising Stars (35 Under 35) by SAATCHI Art's Chief Curator, Buhle Nkalashe is an emerging South African artist that reflects on how culture influences a society.
Buhle is known for his contemporary artworks executed through large canvases. His work mainly consists of portraiture and abstract paintings which are made from a mixture of mediums (charcoal, acrylic paint, oil paint and oil pastels).
Fascinated by the idea of how patterns and colour can be a symbol of identity, Buhle’s art documents how African contemporary culture has evolved over the years to proudly incorporate traditional symbols that speak of its heritage. He appreciates this beauty through his own interpretation of traditional patterns borrowed from isiXhosa, isiZulu and Ndebele.
For this showcase, Nkalashe created a series of self-portraits that invite the viewers into his own world. The subjects in the paintings represent Buhle through different phases of his creative journey.
The artworks convey the chaos and uncertainty he has to go through in order to achieve a sense of peace. Which is a reflection of his artistic process that he navigates from the beginning of creating an artwork till the end in order to arrive at a greater sense of satisfaction and peace from completing an artwork
Buhle is known for his contemporary artworks executed through large canvases. His work mainly consists of portraiture and abstract paintings which are made from a mixture of mediums (charcoal, acrylic paint, oil paint and oil pastels).
Fascinated by the idea of how patterns and colour can be a symbol of identity, Buhle’s art documents how African contemporary culture has evolved over the years to proudly incorporate traditional symbols that speak of its heritage. He appreciates this beauty through his own interpretation of traditional patterns borrowed from isiXhosa, isiZulu and Ndebele.
For this showcase, Nkalashe created a series of self-portraits that invite the viewers into his own world. The subjects in the paintings represent Buhle through different phases of his creative journey.
The artworks convey the chaos and uncertainty he has to go through in order to achieve a sense of peace. Which is a reflection of his artistic process that he navigates from the beginning of creating an artwork till the end in order to arrive at a greater sense of satisfaction and peace from completing an artwork
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2022 Imbizo Solo Exhibition, Lizamoore Gallery, South Africa
2021 Afrinova - New Africa Exhibition. Basel, Switzerland
2021 Dopamine, World Art Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
2021 Commissioned Artwork – National Museum Collection, Bloemfontein, South Africa
2021 Zanele Muholi Residency. Johannesburg, SA (March).
2020 Group Exhibition. New Collection 29 June – Curated by Rebecca Wilson, Saatchi Art Online
2020 Art Fair. AT THE ART FAIR. Outdoor art display, Greenpoint – Brooklyn, NYC (30 April – 3 MAY).
2020 Group Exhibition. Highlights From The Future, Lizamore and Associates, SA
2020 Art Fair. Latitude Art Fair. ODA Gallery Franschhoek, Online (29 June).
2020 Solo Exhibition. UNKNOWN, Gallery 2, Johannesburg, SA
2019 Commissioned Artwork for Credo – Johnson & Johnson, Johannesburg, South Africa.
2019 Group Exhibition. Re-Emerge, Turbine Art Fair, Red Room Gallery, SA
2019 Solo Exhibition. REAWAKENING, Youngblood Africa, Cape Town, SA
2018 Solo Exhibition. THE NEW AFRICAN, Youngblood Africa, Cape Town, SA
2021 Afrinova - New Africa Exhibition. Basel, Switzerland
2021 Dopamine, World Art Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
2021 Commissioned Artwork – National Museum Collection, Bloemfontein, South Africa
2021 Zanele Muholi Residency. Johannesburg, SA (March).
2020 Group Exhibition. New Collection 29 June – Curated by Rebecca Wilson, Saatchi Art Online
2020 Art Fair. AT THE ART FAIR. Outdoor art display, Greenpoint – Brooklyn, NYC (30 April – 3 MAY).
2020 Group Exhibition. Highlights From The Future, Lizamore and Associates, SA
2020 Art Fair. Latitude Art Fair. ODA Gallery Franschhoek, Online (29 June).
2020 Solo Exhibition. UNKNOWN, Gallery 2, Johannesburg, SA
2019 Commissioned Artwork for Credo – Johnson & Johnson, Johannesburg, South Africa.
2019 Group Exhibition. Re-Emerge, Turbine Art Fair, Red Room Gallery, SA
2019 Solo Exhibition. REAWAKENING, Youngblood Africa, Cape Town, SA
2018 Solo Exhibition. THE NEW AFRICAN, Youngblood Africa, Cape Town, SA