Tinyiko Makwakwa (b. 1984, Tzaneen, South Africa) is a self-taught textile and fibre artist. Currently based in Johannesburg, Makwakwa’s studio practice centres african indigenous science and realities, that show a deep care for the interwoven narratives between materials, the landscape and Makwakwa’s process driven art practice. Her textiles are layered with vibrant colour derived from natural dyes both botanical dyes and orchers, glass beads and stitch embriodery, on natural fabric (linen,Hemp, cotton and silk.)

Makwakwa explores cultural materiality as language: Matrilineal Methodologies: as an artistic value, spiritual practice and rituals that promote circulairty through African Indigenous practices, linking ties between how cultures are both built and sustained. The incorporation of african indigenous voices, perspective and lived experiences as an indigenous science, how they embody ways of knowing that are rooted in ancestral knowledge systems as valid as science. The same ways our environments have adapted, our indigenous knowledge systems have adapted as a science in and of itself- an african indigenous science.

Through curvilinear abstract shapes and form Makwakwa’s visual language and artistic focus on how, traditional materials and cultural narrative play their role in how artistic expressions and cross cultural dialogue seamlessly blend the relationship amdist the physical and the spiritual and as a continued natural synthesis between the old and the new.

Exhibitions and projects by Makwakwa include; “Mow down the lawn” Ithuba Gallery Johannesburg 2018, Africa Textile Talks, MUS (2022), Waste Not Want Not at Shade Gallery, Johannesburg (2022), New Signings at Kalashnikovv Gallery, Johannesburg (2022) and Cosmos & Community at Kalashnikovv Gallery, Turbine Art Fair Johannesburg (2022) and Cape Town Art Fair (2023). Latitudes Fair Johannesburg (2023). Makwakwa received her Bachelor's in Applied Social Science at the University of Brighton, UK.

SELECTED SOLO AND DUO EXHIBITIONS

2023
'The Blue Print', Kalashnikovv Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2021
'Cosmos and Community', Kalashnikovv Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2025
'Terrain', EBONY/CURATED, Franschhoek, South Africa
'Hlukanisa uHlanganise', The Melrose Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Kalashnikovv Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2024
'Gathered II', SMAC, Cape Town, South Africa
FNB Art Joburg, Kalashnikovv Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
'Steelwool and Other Paradoxes', Latitudes Center of the Arts, Johannesburg, South Africa
'Refuse the given world', Kalashnikovv Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
RMB Latitudes Art Fair, Kalashnikovv Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Kalashnikovv Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2023
'All that She Carried', Latitude Center for the Arts, Johannesburg, South Africa
RMB Latitudes Art Fair, Kalashnikovv Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Kalashnikovv Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2022
‘New Signings’, Kalashnikovv Gallery Johannesburg South Africa
Turbine Art Fair, Kalashnikovv Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

COLLECTIONS

2024
Iziko museum, Cape Town, South Africa

2025
More Family Collection, Johannesburg, South Africa

RESIDENCIES

2025
South African Foundation and Fellowship for contemporary art and Lion Sands game reserve Residency