The Man who Never Slept, 2023
Mmangaliso Nzuza (b. 1998) is a visual artist who lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa.
Nzuza draws inspiration from his own personal history and popular culture. Recognised for his cubism-inspired figuration, his style is characterised by his use of impasto oil paint and bold brush strokes. He often depicts his subjects in an introspective and contemplative state, using colour and composition to convey a sense of depth and complexity.
Focused on large-scale oil paintings, Nzuza developed a distinctive visual language to render his subjects. The act of depicting a figure becomes a study in uncovering an imagined character; visceral texture, swathes of paint, and loosely rendered lines create lucid form and feeling. Nzuza’s figures, in their dulcet tones and abstractions, hum with significant kinetic energy.
“The idea of stagnation and intellectual development is a recurring theme in my work and for me, the forming of my figures is a means of uncovering an individual’s character. This is a core focus of my practice with figurative oil paintings that express my interest in the human condition.”
Nzuza has taken part in group exhibitions including RE-KNEW-ED at The Gallery Society in Edinburgh and Sasol New Signatures: Art Beyond Imagination held at Pretoria Art Museum in South Africa. He held sold out presentations at the Cape Town Art Fair and 1-54 New York, and will be exhibited at Enter Art Fair and 1-54 London in the latter half of 2023.