Artist Database

From a young age, Meshack 'Shakes' Tembani loved art and started exploring different avenues of expression in a variety of mediums such as painting and mosaic. With a distinctive and stylised technique, he invites viewers to contemplate the beautiful in the seemingly ordinary by using bold and flat colours. Inspired by the everyday experiences faced by his community Tembani depicts these, often concentrating on strong female figures in his neighbourhood. Tembani grew up in New Crossroads, Cape Town, where he still lives and works. In 1998 he completed a Certificate in Visual Arts with the Community Arts Project (CAP). This was followed by a Certificate in screen printing, paper-mache, fabric painting and craft at Ruth Prowse College of Art and Design (1999). He then completed a Diploma in Adult Education at the University of Cape Town. (2003) and a Product Design & Development course at Madesa (2000). Tembani was a resident artist at the Castle of Good Hope Art Studios for a few years. He has had several solo exhibitions and has participated in multiple group exhibitions both locally and abroad. Tembani's work has been commissioned by companies and institutions and appears in several collections globally.