Phumelele Tshabalala

Phumelele Tshabalala (b. 1984, Johannesburg, South Africa) explores the depth and possibility of Black identity in his paintings using oil and acrylic paint, woodblock print, carving, and mixed media collage elements. Employing the body as a site of expression and resistance, Tshabalala’s figures serve as sites of discovery, celebration, and resilience within magical realist settings. His subjects are both known and imagined; they serve as monuments frozen in time that transcend (auto)biographical realities. Deeply personal narratives are woven into his paintings which blossom into universal themes of belonging and otherness.

CV | Press | Exhibitions

The act of witnessing the descendants of Hope , Installation View at Lyles & King, New York, NY, October 28 - December 11, 2021 — *The act of witnessing the descendants of Hope*, Installation View at Lyles & King, New York, NY, October 28 - December 11, 2021

Phumelele Tshabalala, The Call , 2021,
Oils, acrylics, and collage on canvas, 48 x 36 x 3 inches, 121.9 x 91.4 x 7.6 cm — Phumelele Tshabalala, *The Call*, 2021, Oils, acrylics, and collage on canvas, 48 x 36 x 3 inches, 121.9 x 91.4 x 7.6 cm

Phumelele Tshabalala, The act of witnessing the descendants of Hope , Installation View at Lyles & King, New York, NY, October 28 - December 11, 2021 — Phumelele Tshabalala, *The act of witnessing the descendants of Hope*, Installation View at Lyles & King, New York, NY, October 28 - December 11, 2021

Phumelele Tshabalala, A moment in the Sun , 2021, Oils, acrylics, collage embellishment, spray paint on canvas, 30 x 30 inches, 76.2 x 76.2 cm — Phumelele Tshabalala, *A moment in the Sun*, 2021, Oils, acrylics, collage embellishment, spray paint on canvas, 30 x 30 inches, 76.2 x 76.2 cm

Phumelele Tshabalala, The Descendant of Hope , 2021, Oils, acrylics, collage embellishment, spray paint on canvas, 30 x 30 inches, 76.2 x 76.2 cm — Phumelele Tshabalala, *The Descendant of Hope*, 2021, Oils, acrylics, collage embellishment, spray paint on canvas, 30 x 30 inches, 76.2 x 76.2 cm

Phumelele Tshabalala, A dream is a story only you can tell , 2021, Graphite, oils, acrylics, collage, carving, embellishment on wood board, 80 x 65 inches, 203.2 x 165.1 cm — Phumelele Tshabalala, *A dream is a story only you can tell*, 2021, Graphite, oils, acrylics, collage, carving, embellishment on wood board, 80 x 65 inches, 203.2 x 165.1 cm

Phumelele Tshabalala, Resilience embracing her Wabi Sabi, 2021, Oils, acrylics, collage, embellishment, spray paint on canvas, 30 x 30 inches, 76.2 x 76.2 cm

Phumelele Tshabalala, When the dust subsides , 2021, Oils, acrylics, collage, carving, embellishment on wood board, 60 x 65 inches, 152.4 x 165.1 cm — Phumelele Tshabalala, *When the dust subsides*, 2021, Oils, acrylics, collage, carving, embellishment on wood board, 60 x 65 inches, 152.4 x 165.1 cm

Phumelele Tshabalala, Apatheia , 2021, Oils, acrylics, collage, carving, embellishment on wood board, 48 x 46 inches, 121.9 x 116.8 cm — Phumelele Tshabalala, *Apatheia*, 2021, Oils, acrylics, collage, carving, embellishment on wood board, 48 x 46 inches, 121.9 x 116.8 cm

Phumelele Tshabalala, Halleluja the pennywhistler and the Air plant , 2021, Oils, acrylics, collage, embellishment on canvas, 65 x 45 inches, 165.1 x 114.3 cm — Phumelele Tshabalala, *Halleluja the pennywhistler and the Air plant*, 2021, Oils, acrylics, collage, embellishment on canvas, 65 x 45 inches, 165.1 x 114.3 cm

Phumelele Tshabalala, Mshengu The Alchemist , 2021, Oils, acrylics, collage, carving spray paint on wood board, 48 x 36 inches, 121.9 x 91.4 cm — Phumelele Tshabalala, *Mshengu The Alchemist*, 2021, Oils, acrylics, collage, carving spray paint on wood board, 48 x 36 inches, 121.9 x 91.4 cm

Phumelele Tshabalala, Noluthando , 2021, Graphite, oils, acrylics, collage on Fabriano paper, Framed, 38 1/2 x 27 inches, 97.8 x 68.6 cm — Phumelele Tshabalala, *Noluthando*, 2021, Graphite, oils, acrylics, collage on Fabriano paper, Framed, 38 1/2 x 27 inches, 97.8 x 68.6 cm

Phumelele Tshabalala, The Descendent of Hope , 2021, Relief print with collage on Fabriano paper, 38 1/2 x 27 inches, 97.8 x 68.6 cm, Edition of 5 — Phumelele Tshabalala, *The Descendent of Hope*, 2021, Relief print with collage on Fabriano paper, 38 1/2 x 27 inches, 97.8 x 68.6 cm, Edition of 5

Phumelele Tshabalala, When they see Us , 2021, Acrylic, oil, painted canvas pieces collaged, textured paper collage on panel, 48 x 36 x 3 in, 121.9 x 91.4 x 7.6 cm — Phumelele Tshabalala, *When they see Us*, 2021, Acrylic, oil, painted canvas pieces collaged, textured paper collage on panel, 48 x 36 x 3 in, 121.9 x 91.4 x 7.6 cm

Phumelele Tshabalala, They call her the shy one of Vilakazi Street , 2021, Acrylic, oil, painted canvas pieces collaged, textured paper collage on panel, 24 x 18 x 3 in, 61 x 45.7 x 7.6 cm — Phumelele Tshabalala, *They call her the shy one of Vilakazi Street*, 2021, Acrylic, oil, painted canvas pieces collaged, textured paper collage on panel, 24 x 18 x 3 in, 61 x 45.7 x 7.6 cm

Phumelele Tshabalala

Paola Angelini

Rosa Loy