Sandown resident and artist Gael Nsumu (28) has used his talent to tell stories since he was eight years old. He has studios in Fourways and Sandown where he showcases his work.
He was born and raised in the Congo then later moved to South Africa to study engineering at the Tshwane University of Technology.
He graduated in 2013 and continued with his B-Tech in 2015. He later took on art career professionally. His apartment in Pretoria was where he did his paintings.
Later that year he partnered with a company called the Red Man, an art gallery in Fourways and they deal with the frames and digital side of his art.
The gallery is home to one of his latest projects: Black, Proud and Fearless. The painting is about hope and giving people inspiration. Telling people no matter who you are and despite the adversity, prejudice and obstacles, if you stay inspired and fearless you can achieve your goals and live your dreams.
Giving to the world as he receives information is what keeps him going in his art career.
“I was tired of getting bad media always about black people,” he said.
The Black, Proud and Fearless painting features artists, leaders, politicians and celebrities from around the world. He said that the people on the portrait display a bad side of the narrative to show that no one is perfect.
The portrait entails biographies of 120 characters. Nsumo specialises in portraiture, telling people’s stories through their portraits. “I get inspired by my reality and what I think the world needs to hear.”
As a child he wanted toys, he was inspired by the things he saw on television and wanted to have them. He started drawing and cutting out his drawings. He wanted to make things come alive. His natural impulse to create led him to create the toys he wanted to have.
His older brother also inspired him as he would always draw. His family encouraged him to draw and they saw his talent and steered him in the right direction.
His goal is to inspire people. He believes as human beings our role is to grow, learn and teach – growing by absorbing all the information and learning along the way; teach by inspiring other people with his art.
Giving to the world as he receives information is what keeps him going in his art career.
He is currently looking to partner with fundraising organisers where he will auction his paintings and donate all the sales to charity.
Related articles:
Learners display their artistic flair at Lycée Jules Verne exhibition
Young Redhill artist awarded second place in international art competition
