27th October 2020, on what would have been his 103rd birthday, this 9 meter bronze statue of Oliver Tambo was unveiled by President Cyril Ramaphosa at OR International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. In his speech, I think that President Ramaphosa beautifully summed up […]
Monumental: Nelson Mandela – 6m statue
(Photo by eNCA reporter Lenyaro Sello) “Nelson Mandela is now a symbol of dignity, a symbol of forgiveness, a symbol of peace and the symbol of freedom that we Palestinians are struggling to achieve… Having Mandela with us is not about the statue – it […]
Monumental: Life size Elephant
This life size elephant bull was sculpted under the direction of Jean Doyle and the Doyle Art Foundry. The project took 2 years to complete, of which 3 months were spent sculpting the original piece in wax clay. Massive blocks of polystyrene were joined together […]
Lifesize figures: Adelaide Tambo
A daunting task, the sculpture of Adelaide Tambo needed to join that of her husband Oliver Tambo which had been beautifully sculpted by artist Zelda Stroud a few years earlier. It was important for me that the sculpture of Adelaide portrayed not only her passionate, […]
Lifesize figures: Walter and Albertina Sisulu
“A unity of such deep friendship and mutual respect, a personal and political partnership that transcended and survived all hardships, separations and persecution.” (Nelson Mandela’s impression of Walter and Albertina Sisulu’s relationship quoted from an exhibition titled “Walter and Albertina Sisulu: Parenting a Nation,” at […]
Lifesize figures: Rev ZR Mahabane
A teacher, court interpreter, Methodist minister and first President-General of the ANC (he eventually served two terms – 1924 to 1927 and 1937 to 1940), Rev Mahabane was described as a diplomatic, slow-speaking and calm man, who combined politics and Christian ethics to fight racism. […]
Lifesize figures: Winnie Madikizela Mandela
Winnie Madikizela Mandela was a woman of great courage and personal strength. She was known to her supporters as a mother of the nation and an undisputed heroine of the Struggle. She was the ex-wife of Nelson Mandela and fought alongside him for the liberation […]
Lifesize figures: Dr Martin Luther King Jnr
I worked with colleagues Cristina Salvoldi and Lungisa Kala on this piece. We wanted the sculpture to convey Dr Martin Luther King’s absolute determination and persistence in realising his vision despite all adversity. He is depicted walking determinedly, almost marching, looking straight ahead with dogged […]
Portraits: Nelson Mandela – “The Listener”
I sculpted this portrait bust for the 100 Years Tribute Exhibition – Celebrating Nelson Mandela’s Legacy hosted at The Studio Art Gallery in Simons Town. http://www.studioartgallery.co.za/100-years-tribute-exhibition-2/ I have worked on various sculptures of Nelson Mandela, each time with a different focus and message specific to […]
Portraits: Concrete portrait
This is a more personal work. As I get older, travel and experience more of the world, I become increasingly aware of how unusual and special my upbringing was. I grew up on a farm in a region known as the Karoo in South Africa. […]
Portraits: Mandela Portrait
This is the first life size portrait I sculpted and also my first bronze piece . Made in 2001, I had to use photographs collected from newspaper cuttings as reference. Medium: Bronze and Fired clay original, Height: Lifesize, approx. 50cm
Bronzes: Elephant Family
The original pieces, sculpted in white oil based clay. These were then molded and cast into bronze. The patina has a reddish colour, reminiscent of the colour of the elephants in Addo Elephant Park who were my subjects for these sculptures. The ground there has […]
Bronzes: Martial Eagle
A commissioned sculpture of a martial eagle coming in to land. The original was sculpted out of white oil based clay, which was then molded and cast into bronze. Medium: Bronze, Wingspan: 1150mm
Wildlife: “On Safari in the Concrete Jungle”
Titled “On Safari in the Concrete Jungle” This was my first experience working with concrete as a final sculpting medium, and I was very surprised at how versatile it can be. The sculpture was on the 2010 Young Concrete Sculptor Award competition exhibition at the […]
Bronzes: Cape Sugarbird
Cape Sugarbird on Protea flower – sculpted for the Leeu Dassenberg Collection of maquettes of fauna and flora specific to Franschoek in the Western Cape. Medium: Bronze, Height: 300mm
Bronzes: Cape White-eyes
Two Cape White-eyes on a Leonotis leonurus (wild dagga) – sculpted for the Leeu Dassenberg Collection of maquettes of fauna and flora specific to Franschoek in the Western Cape. Medium: Bronze, Height: 300mm