Nelson Makamo

This work has been kindly donated by the artist

Capturing childlike innocence with striking vibrancy, the present lot is distinctive of Nelson Makamo’s oeuvre. Influenced by the radiant hope that children exude, Makamo believes that the joy and simplicity through which children live can be rediscovered and recaptured. Through his art, these forgotten notions of wonder and joy can be relived. 

Nelson Makamo was born in 1982, in Modimolle, South Africa. For 3 years, he studied printing making at the Artists Proof Studios in Johannesburg. Following his graduation, his practice continued to develop through experimentation with a range of materials, particularly his signature medium, charcoal. Nelson has exhibited in South Africa, the USA, France, Italy, the Netherlands, England, and Scotland. His work is featured in prestigious public and private collections worldwide. In 2019, his work was featured in TIME magazine, and described as ‘the Art of Optimism.’