Esther Mahlangu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Esther Mahlangu
Dr. Esther Mahlangu signs a recently completed work.
Born	Esther Nikwambi Mahlangu (1935-11-11) 11 November 1935 (age 89) Middelburg, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Nationality	South African
Style	Ndebele house painting

The entrance gate to Esther Mahlangu's homestead

Esther Mahlangu, born on November 11, 1935, is a famous artist from South Africa. She is well-known for her bright and big paintings. These artworks are inspired by her Ndebele culture. Many people consider her one of South Africa's most important artists.

Early Life and Ndebele Art

Growing Up and Learning Art

Esther Nikwambi Mahlangu was born on November 11, 1935. She grew up on a farm near Middelburg, Mpumalanga, South Africa. Esther is a member of the Southern Ndebele people. She was the oldest of nine children in her family.

Esther started painting when she was just 10 years old. Her mother and grandmother taught her. This was part of a special Ndebele tradition. Young girls learned to paint to decorate their homes after they got married.

Esther Mahlangu's Artistic Journey

Unique Ndebele Painting Style

Mahlangu is famous for taking Ndebele mural art and putting it on new surfaces. This art is usually painted on mud walls. But Esther paints on canvas and metal. Her special designs often have white lines that go diagonally. They also feature zigzag patterns. Her artworks are seen as very interesting and detailed.

Her art uses patterns from traditional Ndebele clothes and jewelry. Her designs are usually colorful and geometric. She often creates very large paintings. She uses a paintbrush made from chicken feathers. She also signs her beadwork by making her initials, "EM," with beads.

Sharing Ndebele Culture

From 1980 to 1991, Mahlangu lived at the Botshabelo Historical Village. This is an open-air museum. It teaches visitors about Ndebele culture.

Esther Mahlangu first became known around the world in 1989. This happened at an art show in Paris called Magiciens de la terre. Researchers from France saw her house paintings in South Africa in 1986. They then invited her to the show. While in France, she painted a copy of her house. She also created a mural inside the Angoulême Museum of Fine Arts.

Mahlangu's BMW Art Car

Collaborations with Big Brands

In 1991, the car company BMW asked her to create an art car. She joined famous artists like Andy Warhol. Her design was on a BMW 525i. It showed traditional Ndebele patterns. This was the first BMW Art Car made by a non-Western artist and a woman. The car was shown in museums in Washington, D.C., and London.

In 2016, Mahlangu painted the inside of a BMW 7 Series car. This car was shown at a big art fair in London.

Esther Mahlangu has worked on many other exciting projects:

• In 1992, she painted a five-story mural for the Johannesburg Civic Theatre.
• In 1994, she made a mural at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C.
• In 1997, she painted the tail fins of several British Airways planes.
• In 2007, she painted a Fiat 500 car for an exhibition in Italy.
• In 2014, she created two murals for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.
• In 2016, she designed a special bottle for Belvedere Vodka. Money from sales went to fight diseases like HIV/AIDS.
• She also designed sneakers for a Swedish fashion brand, Eytys. This was the first time her work included embroidery.
• She has worked with shoe brand Melissa and fashion label Comme des Garçons.

Great Court, British Museum, November 2016

In 2020, Mahlangu painted a custom interior for a Rolls-Royce Phantom car. She was the first South African artist to create art for this car. In 2024, she worked with BMW again on a concept car called the i5 Flow Nostokana. This car's outside can change colors and shows Ndebele designs. Her art has been shown all over the world.

Teaching the Next Generation

In 2024, an art studio opened at her home in Mpumalanga, South Africa. It is dedicated to her work. Before this, she started her own art school in her backyard. There, she teaches young artists Ndebele painting and design.

Exhibitions and Recognition

Where Her Art Has Been Shown

Esther Mahlangu's art has been displayed in many places around the world. Here are some of the notable exhibitions:

• 1989: Magiciens de la terre at Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.
• 1991: BMW Art Cars and Painting Exhibition in South Africa.
• 1992: Documenta 9.
• 1994: Musee des Beauz- Arts de Nantes.
• 1997: Het Afrika Museum.
• 1998: Tobu Museum of Art.
• 2005: Museum of Fine Arts.
• 2006: The Jean Pigozzi Contemporary African Art Collection.
• 2007: The Walters Art Museum.
• 2016: Frieze Art Fair.
• 2024: Then I Knew I Was Good at Painting: Esther Mahlangu, A Retrospective.

Awards and Honors

Special Recognitions for Her Art

Esther Mahlangu has received many awards for her amazing art.

• In 2006, the Government of South Africa gave her the Order of Ikhamanga in Silver. This was for her "excellent contribution to the development of the indigenous Ndebele arts."
• In 2019, she received an award from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
• In 2024, she won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the first South African Creative Arts Awards.

Honorary Degrees

Mahlangu has also received several special degrees from universities. These are called honorary degrees. They recognize her work in art and for keeping Ndebele culture alive.

• In April 2018, the University of Johannesburg gave her an honorary doctorate.
• That same year, the Durban University of Technology also gave her an honorary doctorate.
• In 2022, the Tshwane University of Technology awarded her an honorary doctorate in arts and design.
• In 2024, she received an honorary Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics from the University of South Africa. This was for her artistic career and her "mathematical prowess."

Images for kids

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  Dr. Esther Mahlangu signs a recently completed work.