Monty Mahobe is a Soweto based artist who has been making art for over 68 years.
Mahobe was born in 1934 in Sophiatown. His very first exhibition was a group exhibition curated by Gideon Uys at the Johannesburg City Public Library Exhibition in 1947.
Mahobe studied art at Polly Street Art Centre – the only centre for artistic development, to open its doors to artists of colour. It also came to name as an era of visual art making – the Polly Street Era.
Despite his progress being stifled due to limited access during the apartheid era, Mahobe continued with his passion under the patronage of Mathew Whipman.
Whipman, who owned an art supply store was an art practitioner himself, encouraged Mahobe to pursue the arts by regularly providing Mahobe with paper, brushes & watercolour, encouraging him to explore his gift and fill the paper with his creations.
Mahobe was not only a masterful visual artist embracing the mediums of clay work, carving, sculpture, printmaking and painting but he was also a talented musician who later became a member of The Huddleston Jazz Band, playing upright bass.
He later joined the African Follies at the age of 22. He continued to regale in the possibility of a career in the arts.
This proved too much of an extravagance for his circumstance – a career in visual arts was a total indulgence for black people during this era. He fell under the pressure of the times and committed to a blue-collar existence. He joined the workforce of the National Springs Company till 1982.
After a period of 20 years, Mahobe returned to visual arts at the encouragement of his longest standing and greatest patron, his sister. He joined Mofolo Art Centre where he continued to explore various other mediums.
In January 2015, his journey took an interesting turn, when a limited selection of his works was printed, in partnership with EST1912 Arts and Culture Hub and Sguzu Prints Studio, for a collaborative showcase – Memory is the Weapon Exhibition and Literary Showcase, with world-renowned writer and activist Don Mattera.
“We are so excited to have been part of Uncle Monty’s journey. His story is atypical and will add a dynamic narrative to the creative ecology of Soweto” – Nomazulu Taukobong from EST1912 Arts and Culture Hub.
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