Blessing Ngobeni

Blessing Ngobeni is a versatile artist who traverses various disciplines including painting, collage, sculpture, video animation, sound installations, and live performances.

Biography of Blessing Ngobeni

Blessing Ngobeni was born in 1985 in Tzaneen, South Africa. Currently residing and working in Johannesburg, Ngobeni's journey into the art world was shaped by a tumultuous upbringing marked by adversity and resilience.

Relocating to the bustling metropolis of Johannesburg at a tender age, Ngobeni encountered numerous hardships, ranging from periods of homelessness to incarceration. However, it was within the realm of art that he found solace and purpose. Ngobeni's artistic expression serves as a critique of the corruption, ineptitude, and duplicity prevalent within South Africa's contemporary political landscape. Drawing inspiration from luminaries such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, David Koloane, and Pablo Picasso, Ngobeni reinterprets and reimagines their ideas through his unique lens.

Ngobeni's works have found homes in esteemed public institutions across South Africa, including the Johannesburg Art Gallery. He has also been recognized on an international scale, with features in Phaidon's acclaimed publication, Vitamin P3.

Through his large-scale paintings, Ngobeni crafts a hybrid language that blends elements of Surrealism, Dadaism, and Neo-Expressionism, serving as a poignant commentary on South Africa's socio-political landscape. His canvases, rich with layers of imagery sourced from magazines, books, and social media, depict a cacophony of figurative characters, each offering a distinct perspective on contemporary affairs.