About The Artist

Artist Biography

Mbali Tshabalala is a mixed media artist, curator, and creative entrepreneur. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine and Applied Art from the Tshwane University of Technology. Mbali was one of five featured artists for the 2019 Latitudes Limited Edition in collaboration with David Krut Projects for the Latitudes Art Fair. She appeared in the Thami Mnyele Fine Art Award top 100 list in 2019 and she has worked as an assistant curator at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA).

Mbali uses the curator as artist approach and artist as curator acumen in her practice. She has curated the Young Capital banner of The Joburg Fringe and has shown her work at the Pretoria Art Association, the Constitution Hill, North West University Gallery and Johannesburg Art Gallery amongst others. Mbali studied printmaking at the Artist Proof Studio and has a background in Graphic Design. She is also the founder of the Collective UNTITLD, Anecdotes Gallery and has been working as a curator in Pretoria, Cape Town and Johannesburg for the last seven years.

Artist Statement

My artistic practice is an on-going interrogation of ideals around mental health in black societies particularly in black women. Although faced with many inequities that stem from racism, and sexism. Black women are often expected to be of limitless resilience, tenacity and to embody 'The Strong Black Woman' persona.

As a black woman who has been battling depression and anxiety I have struggled reconciling feelings of being 'weak' while genuinely needing professional mental health. This is further stigmatised by cultural and religious beliefs that assert misconceptions and contribute to uninformed notions and superstitions.

My work seeks to debunk these ideals and act as an agent of healing, to redress my own self stigma and self-sabotage.

Group Exhibitions

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 spirit the 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 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

Art Fairs

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