Sichumile Adam (b. 2001) is an emerging visual artist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. She recently graduated with an honours degree in Fine Arts from the University of Witwatersrand. As a multi-disciplinary artist, Sichumile works primarily with acrylic paint, fabric, and glass beads. Her work uniquely combines contemporary African American and South African imagery to create a landscape that resonates with women across the Black diaspora.

Through curated posing, Sichumile uses the figures in her painting to celebrate and explore womanhood, drawing from both personal and collective experiences as a Black woman. The use of beads and fabric in artwork further celebrates her cultural heritage, adding texture and dimensions to her creations.

This approach also enhances the viewing experience, encouraging viewers to engage with her painting up close and explore the intricate beading styles and techniques. “I enjoy using my art to explore the dynamic social cultures that women share globally, but from a South African context, ” says Sichumile.

Benigno Mangovo was born in Cabinda, Angola, on September 12, 1993, into an artistic family and developed an interest in drawing from an early age. In 2017, he joined the Mawete painting and drawing studio in Luanda, Angola, a studio also connected to his brother, the renowned painter and sculptor Cristiano Mangovo. This environment further supported the development of his artistic practice and engagement with contemporary visual expression.

Mangovo works primarily across painting and video art, drawing extensively from his personal experiences, observations and reflections. His practice explores themes of memory, feelings, emotions and perception, while also examining interpersonal relationships and the relationship between people and the places they inhabit. Through these themes, Mangovo creates works that reflect on lived experience, human connection and the ways personal and collective memories shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.