Mongezi Ncombo was born in the Eastern Cape, Mthatha on the 03 March 1987.
He studied the Visual Art and Design in the Central Johannesburg College and completed N5 in 2010. In 2010, he enrolled as a Saturday student in Printmaking at the Artist Proof Studio. In December 2010, he exhibited in a group exhibition for the Arts and Culture festival at the Port St` Johns Museum. In 2011, he moved to the weekday`s printmaking program at the Artist Proof Studio. He exhibited at the Johannesburg Art Gallery for the “The coming of age” exhibition at the Artist proof studio`s 21st anniversary. In 2012, he exhibited at the Artist Proof Studio gallery for the 3rd year exhibition entitled “I reflect”.
In 2018 ,he participated in an Art exchange program at One Eloff Studios. He participated in a mentorship program at the M Studio and exhibiting at the Mpho Art and Design. He exhibited at the Mall of Africa with the Julie Miller investment for the Art Collective exhibition. 2019, he exhibited at the Goethe institute and at the Firstbank with the MMarthouse. He is taking part in the Spier Arts Trust mentorship program. He worked at the Pulp paper works as a bookbinder’s apprentice.
He is currently doing an artist residency at the Modern Art Projects South Africa, working as a full time artist and working as an art director in the MAPSA bookbinding project.
Artist Statement
What is the right question!
Mongezi Ncombo`s body of work addresses the subject of seeing beyond the preconceived concepts which are based on the historical records, mass media communication , traditions, culture, the forms of education and the other sources of information, in terms of what they mean to us as individuals and how we connect to the information.
His artworks are composed of a combination of the contour line, the gesture drawing technique, abstract expressionism and realistic cubism. He then recomposes the abstract pattern to project the scenarios of the urban life, the rural settlements, the township life and the people on a daily basis, asking questions about their societal state of being through experience and being present in the moment.