Sichumile Adam

Sichumile Adam (b. 2001) is an emerging visual artist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. She has recently graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand with an honours degree in Fine Arts.

She is a multi-disciplinary artist and works primarily with acrylic paint, fabric and glass beads. Sichumile combines popular contemporary African American and South African imagery to create a landscape of familiar aesthetics amongst women across the Black diaspora. Through her curated posing, she uses the figures in her paintings to explore and celebrate womanhood. The imagery is derived from both a personal and a collective experience as a Black woman. The use of beads and fabric further celebrates her cultural heritage and aid in adding texture and dimension to the art.

This also enhances the viewing experience by encouraging the viewer to engage with her paintings up close, allowing them to explore the 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.”