Orange Farm-based visual artist and printmaker Vusumuzi Nkosi is using art to preserve the people, places and experiences that shaped his life.
Nkosi draws on memories of growing up in a South African township to create works that explore identity, family, loss, resilience and belonging.
Through linocut, charcoal, pastel and mixed media, he documents everyday township life, with children and community spaces often appearing at the centre of his work.
“My work is rooted in the lived experiences of growing up in a South African township,” Nkosi said. “I explore themes of memory, family, identity and resilience, often drawing inspiration from the energy and imagination of children,” Nkosi told OFN.
Nkosi trained at Artist Proof Studio, where he specialised in printmaking. His work has featured in several exhibitions, including Fragments of Us in 2020, the Artist Proof Studio Group Exhibition in 2022 and Documenta 15 in Kassel, Germany.
His participation in Documenta 15 formed part of a collaborative exchange involving Artist Proof Studio, the University of Johannesburg and the University of Pretoria.
Nkosi continued to build momentum in the years that followed, taking part in five group exhibitions in 2025 and presenting his third group exhibition of 2026.
He said linocut allows him to transform personal memories into bold visual stories.
“Each artwork becomes a record of the people, places and emotions that shape my life. Linocut helps me preserve moments that might otherwise be forgotten,” said Nkosi
While his work reflects hardship and personal loss, Nkosi does not want township life to be defined only by struggle.
“Rather than focusing solely on hardship, my work aims to celebrate the strength, creativity and humanity within township communities,” he said.
Through his art, Nkosi hopes viewers will reflect on their own experiences and recognise the dignity found in ordinary moments.
“I want people to look at the work, think about their own memories and see the value in everyday life,” he added.
