CEASAR Mkhize is a musician, dancer, and storyteller, but he is best known for his whimsical angel and animal sculptures which have received international recognition.
Mkhize’s work will be featured at the Woza Moya Artists’ Wall for the month of July.
The 53-year-old is a family man, and his relationship with his children is very important to him.
He was born in Durban in 1970 and grew up in the tough and sometimes violent environment of KwaMashu L Section. He lived there with his parents and siblings until he was 14 years old.
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After his brother was fatally stabbed, Mkhize and his remaining siblings were sent to live with their grandmother in rural Mandeni where he lived for six years before returning to KwaMashu.
Mkhize’s talent as an artist was recognised from an early age, and he was supported and encouraged by his family. His mother nurtured his skills and sent him to holiday art classes organised by the African Art Centre, a Durban-based NGO that promotes and trains black artists.
In 1994, he was accepted into the Velobala Art Project, hosted at the Durban University of Technology and funded by the African Art Centre. This opportunity was a turning point for Mkhize as it made him realise that it was possible to make a living from art. He took part in the project for three years and learned a variety of artforms, including sculpture, pottery and painting.
In 1998, Mkhize attended a doll-making workshop at the Durban Art Gallery. It was the skills he learned in this course that inspired his artform – wire sculptures covered in cloth and then beaded to bring them to life. Together with his then-partner Thafa (the mother of his children), he started to create the animal sculptures he became recognised for. He made and covered the metal frames for the sculptures, and Thafa created the beadwork on the fabric covering.
Showcasing his work
The concept behind the Woza Moya Artists’ Wall and Artists’ Cards is to create and showcase work for artists, giving them a platform to garner exposure. Each month, a different artist is paid to paint, sculpt, embroider or spray a wall panel, which is displayed on the wall outside the Woza Moya Hillcrest AIDS Centre shop.
Woza Moya assists the artist by marketing their work for the entire month their work is on display. A greeting card is made of the painted wall panel and sold in their shops so that artists can earn an ongoing passive income. If you love the artist’s work, please support them by buying a card – they are only R25.
Mkhize’s artwork is for sale, and people can bid for the artwork online: https://www.wozamoya.co.za/auctions/. Bidding starts at R500, and there are two works on auction.
“We would like to thank the 100% Foundation for coming on board for an ongoing sponsorship of the Artists’ Wall and making this monthly event possible. Ceasar Mkhize is the twenty-third artist, and his work will be featured for the month of July 2023,” said Woza Moya’s Paula Thomson.
Shop opening times:
Woza Moya is based at the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust, 26 Old Main Road in Hillcrest, and is open from Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:00. The Woza Moya Windermere Centre is open from 09:00 to 17:00. On Saturdays, the HACT shop is open from 08:00 to 14:00 and from 09:00 to 14:00 at Windermere. Woza Moya is the economic empowerment project of the Hillcrest AIDS Centre Trust.
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