Artist Database

Dada Khanyisa, born in Umzimkhulu, KwaZulu-Natal in 1991, studied Digital Animation before completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at the Michaelis School of Fine Art in 2016. Working primarily with painted wooden assemblages, Khanyisa examines contemporary South African culture, transforming ordinary scenes into reflections of the nation’s broader social, economic, and cultural dynamics. Their playful compositions primarily feature hand-carved figures set against layered, three-dimensional backdrops made from painted surfaces, collaged elements and found objects. Khanyisa’s lively characters often draw on collective histories to comment on and question contemporary matters.