Mpumi Mayisa is a Johannesburg-based cultural worker, curator, and art writer whose practice is driven by a deep curiosity about the archive.

Her approach involves unpacking and decoding the layers of personal and collective memory embedded within archives, while exploring the alternative realities these memories present. Through her curatorial lens, Mpumi creates space for dialogue between past and present, allowing for new interpretations and possibilities to emerge.

She has held positions as Junior Curator for the NIROX Foundation Winter Sculpture Exhibition, a collaboration with Sweden’s Wanås Konst/The Wanås Foundation. Her recent curatorial projects include Bathini Abafazi? at Gallery Fanon and A Crescendo of DayDreams at Bubblegum Gallery for FNB Art Joburg. Each of these exhibitions reflects her commitment to exploring narratives that challenge traditional interpretations of history and identity.

Mpumi Mayisa has contributed her writing to platforms such as ArtThrob, Bubblegum Club, Nataal Media, and AMAKA. She is also the founder of Among The Lilies, a creative platform that fosters community and drives social impact. Since its inception in 2017, Among The Lilies has produced initiatives like Ode To The Woman, The Open Mic Experiment, and Book Socials, all aimed at nurturing and supporting artistic practice and innovation.