Mbali Tshabalala Profile image

Mbali Tshabalala

Bio

Biography
Mbali Tshabalala is a multidisciplinary artist, curator, and creative entrepreneur. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art from the Tshwane University of Technology, studied printmaking at Artist Proof Studios and has a background in graphic design. Tshabalala is currently an artist in residency at Asisebenze Art Atelia (AAA), a newly formed vibrant and energetic studio space directed by celebrated art writer Ashraf Jamal. Tshabalala has an ongoing relationship with and collaborates with institutions such as David Krut Projects, Pretoria Arts Association and Constitution Hill. Tshabalala’s work is consigned in several galleries in major cities such as Johannesburg, Cape Town and Detroit and is in collections such as the JP Morgan Chace and William Humphries Art Gallery. In addition to working as curator and art administrator for the past seven years, Tshabalala has been practising as a full-time artist since 2019. Her works appear in art competitions such as Sasol New Signatures and the Thami Mnyele Fine Art Award and art auctions by Aspire Art Auction and Strauss & Co. Tshabalala is also the founder of the Collective UNTITLD.

Artist Statement
My artistic practice is an ongoing interrogation of ideals around states of being/existence as a phenomenon affected by race, gender, religion and philosophy. I find myself in a liminal space, transitioning from notions of myself as defined by womanhood and blackness. This body of work is an expression of my current state of being as I attempt to un- condition myself. Nonetheless, these identity categories are embedded in me and inform the person I am. I use photography to capture glimpses of a perceived self and the selfie/silhouette as a necessary means of constructing a new series of narratives. Through my oil-based paper lithography, I use the layering of the multiple printmaking techniques symbolically to reference the complexity of reality. My artistic processes include chine colle, collage, monotype, linocut, embossing, hand colouring, painting and drawing.

Group Exhibitions 2022 – Miniatures in Print – The Printing Girls, Gallery 2 2022 – Alone of it’s Kind, David Krut Projects. 2021 – Through the Window, Gallery2 2021 – The Print Portfolio Exchange, curated by Palesa Suthane, The Soweto Arts Company 2021 – Inner City Contemporaries, curated by Megan Theunissen, Riboville Collection 2020 – Summer Collection, (Aspire Auction) 2020 – Embodying Hir-Self, (Latitudes Online in partnership with Madlozi Art Africa) 2020 – SheImpressions, curated by Reneiwe Mathibe 2020 – Material Matter, Collective Untitld (Rand Merchant Bank Turbine Art Fair) 2020 – Faces of Africa, curated by Patrizia Litty (Litty Contemporary) 2019 – She Impressions, curated by Reneiwe Mathibe (The Project Space) 2019 – Articulating the infinite, curated by Palesa Suthane (Office Gallery) 2019 – LATITUDES Limited (David Krut Projects) 2019 – Urban Findings Curated by: Mbali Tshabalala and Nomandla Waca (Keys Art Mile) 2019 – First Edition auction (Strauss and Co) 2019 – That’s What She Said That’s What She Said – An exhibition for women, by women, in the spirit of women curated by Palesa Motsumi (Constitution Hill) 2019 – Smorgasbord curated by Megan Theunissen (Art Afrique) 2019 – Rand Merchant Bank Exhibition, curated by Busi Ntombela (MM Art House) 2019 – Joburg Fringe in Cape Town, curated by Sarie Potter (Ruth Prowse) 2018 – Back to the Future – Contemporary glass exhibition curated by Lothar Bottcher (Pretoria, Arts Association) 2018 – Interpreting the Intangible, curated by Mbali Tshabalala (The Project Space) 2017 – Common Ground, curated by Stuart Trent (Trent Gallery) 2017 – Young Capital Collecting Narratives, White Noise: with a focus on up-and-coming artists, curated by Mbali Tshabalala (Joburg Fringe) 2016 – Grey 2016 – Grey Areas, Curated by Johan Louw Stegmann and Stuart Trent (Trent Gallery) 2016 – The Global Nomadic Art Project, initiated by the YATOO Nature Art Association of Korea hosted by the Site-Specific Collective. 2016 – Pretoria Arts Association Annual members exhibition curated by Pietervan Heerden (Pretoria Arts Association) 2016 – IDAHOT (International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia), curated by Izaan Wiid (Alliances Françaises de Pretoria) 2016 – COOL CAPITAL SCULPTURE PROJECT: SAADJIES exhibition convenor Pieter Mathews (North West University Gallery) 2014 – Roald Dahl group exhibition (Long Street Art Lovers Gallery) 2013 – Coming Of age 21 Years Of Artist Proof Studio (Johannesburg Art Gallery) Awards 2019 – Thami Mnyele Fine Art Awards, Top 100, Coen Scholtz Recreation Centre, Kempton Park 2021 – Sasol New Signatures Art Competition, Top 100, Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria Art Fairs 2021- Rand Merchant Bank Turbine Art Fair, Collective UNTITLD 2020 – Rand Merchant Bank Turbine Art Fair, Collective UNTITLD 2019 – Latitudes Art Fair, David Krut Projects LATITUDES Limited 2019 – Rand Merchant Bank Turbine Art Fair, Collective UNTITLD

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