Nontokozo Tshabalala

Nontokozo Tshabalala is an award winning multidisciplinary artist and Creative director raised and now based in Standerton, Mpumalanga.

After living in Sweden for the last 6 years, Nontokozo has developed her artistic voice in defining her practice with a particular focus on social design, identity politics and the responsibility of the artist to create images that are just and restore the dignity of black people throughout the global context. She uses illustration, graphic design, pattern design, music, and poetry to unpack these topics.

In 2016 cofounded Mam’Gobozi Design Factory, a design studio celebrating the Afrikan identity through design practices that center Afrika as a starting point for inspiration and creation. Through the studio they created work for clients such as The Africa Centre(London), Queens University(Canada) and Facebook Africa.

Nontokozo artistic work has been shown at The Göteborg International Biennial for Contemporary Art (GIBCA) Extended, Malmö Konsthall, The National Museum of World Culture (Gothenburg), and Röda Sten Konsthall (Gothenburg). A leader by nature, she was awarded The Loeries Young Creative Award in 2021, Mail&Gaurdian Top 200 Young South Africans 2023 and The Swedish Art Council Arbetsstipendium 2024 for her contribution to the art, design and advertising industry.

Passionate about self development and community building she founded Darkie&Boni bicycle club which hosts monthly social rides in and around Standerton, as well as Creatives Shall Govern an initiative to organise and strengthen the creative community of Standerton towards self actualisation and defining the landscape of the town. Last event they hosted was an exhibition in a warehouse turned skatepark turned gallery.