About Makiwa

Makiwa Mutomba (born 1976 in Zimbabwe) showed an excellent ability to draw at an early age. It was not until his third year at university in 1999 where he was studying Electronics Engineering that he quit studies and started painting pictures for a living. Moving from Bulawayo to Harare, which is the commercial capital of the country, and then on to the resort town of  Victoria Falls, IN 2000, where he sold miniature paintings at the roadside to tourists (hanging paintings from tree branches). It was at this time that Makiwa developed a love for the knife as a painting tool. Makiwa Moved to South Africa in 2000 where he quickly found representation in reputable Art Galleries in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

In 2014, Makiwa opened Makiwa Galleries in South Africa, which comprises of 3 Art Galleries in Durban, Franschhoek, and Hermanus. Most of his art is now sold through Makiwa Galleries to art collectors in South Africa and all over the world, particularly Europe and USA.

In 2009, Woolworths South Africa chose one of his colourful beach scenes for their carrier bags, which were distributed across the country. Also in the same year Makiwa won an award for painting at the SNBA (Societie Nationale Des Beaux-Arts) , an international annual exhibition held at the Carrousel Du Louvre, in Paris, France.

RECENT COMMISSIONS

2022: Wine Label Design for “Philosophie”, a Vintage Wine by Vondeling, South Africa.

2000-2022: Makiwa’s work has been published in various news magazines and used for a Book Cover and  other private commissions.

EXHIBITIONS 

• 2012 to 2022……… Makiwa has taken part in numerous group and solo exhibitions in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Germany, Netherlands, India, France, USA, Taiwan and The United Kingdom. He has taken part in Art fairs in Miami, USA, New York, USA, Paris, France, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

• 2018 …….New York Art Expo, New York USA
• 2018……..ADAF (Annual Dutch Art fair, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• 2017………Art Shopping Paris- Art Fair in France
• 2011 ....................Nova Constantia ,Art Side In, Group Exhibition, Cape Town
• 2012 Mini Exhibition, The Chris Tugwell gallery, Pretoria
• ............................Small Works Exhibition, Group Exhibition, Kotze Kuns Gallery,
• ....................SHADES OF SPRING, Solo Exhibition, De Kraal Gallery, Paarl
• ..................Out of Africa, With Barbra Siedle and Shirley Brandon, The Green Gallery, Durban
• 2011 Solo Exhibition- Let the Children Play , The Cape Gallery, Cape Town
• 2011 The Nude - St Lorient Gallery of Fashion and Art- Pretoria
• 2010 Solo Art Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
• 2010 Solo Exhibition- The Color Orange, Kotze Kunsgallery, Bloemfontein
• 2010 Artists Camp, Hyderabad, India
• 2010 Solo Exhibition- Andhra Pradesh, Miniature paintings from India.   KZNSA gallery, Durban
• 2010 7^th Annual Black Like Us Exhibition, Manor Gallery, Johannesburg
• 2010 Recent Works By Makiwa Mutomba, Sandy Esau and Walter Zand, Cape gallery, Cape Town
• 2010 A Little Piece of Africa, Manor Gallery, Johannesburg.
• 2010 What Texas Means To Me Awards Show, Austin Art Spaces, Texas, USA
• 2010 Solo Exhibition, Women, ArtSPACE Durban
• 2009 Societe Nationale Des Beaux Arts (SNBA) Salon. Carrousel Du Louvre, Paris, France
• 2009 Collective Exhibition, Hendaye, France
• 2009 Collective Exhibition, Camden Art Gallery, London
• 2009   Group Exhibition, ArtSPACE BERLIN, Germany
• 2008   Group Exhibition, Wildlands Art for Conservation, Durban
• 2008   Featured Artist- Norscot Manor Gallery, Johannesburg
• 2007  Group Exhibition “Together We Are One” A . Etchings etc... Durban
• 2007  Solo Exhibition- “Paintings By Makiwa Mutomba” Artspaceberlin ,  Berlin,  Germany
• 2007 Solo Exhibition- Heads, Kwazulu Natal  Society of the Arts, Durban
• 2007 Solo Exhibition- A Celebration of Life, Association of Visual Artists, Cape Town
• 2007   Group Exhibition-  Wildlands Art for Conservation, The Lindsay Gallery, Durban
• 2006   Solo exhibition- Portraits and figures, Artspace Durban in collaboration with  The Art Room,   Umhlanga .
• 2006   Annual miniatures Exhibition, Johan Smith Art Gallery, Clarens
• 2005 Group Exhibition- Black Like Us, The Watercolor Society of South Africa, Johannesburg 
• 2002    Solo Exhibition- Miniature Oils, The African Easel Art Gallery, Kasane, Botswana   
• 2001   Solo Exhibition- Miniature Oils, The Black Mamba Gallery,
• Vaalwater South Africa 
• 2001  Works on Paper, Gallery Delta, Harare
              (Sold out 20 miniature paintings which were part of this group show)
• 2000    Young Artists Exhibition, Gallery Delta, Harare, Zimbabwe

DONATIONS and CHARITY WORK

• 2010- 2011 Donates a Painting each year to the Lyons Club of Pochefstroom for   the Brightly Coloured Sight project, proceeds of which will go to the Guide Dog Association for the Blind.
• 2006 Donated a painting at the request of the The South African High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Lindiwe Mabuza for auction in London to raise funds towards the Phelophepa Medical Train.
• 2007 Donated a painting titled “Grandmother” to CatPals Art Auction.

Makiwa Mutomba, born in 1976 in Zimbabwe, exhibited prodigious talent in drawing from a tender age. Despite embarking on a path in Electronics Engineering at university, he pivoted dramatically in his third year in 1999, choosing to embrace his passion for art as a full-time career. Migrating from Bulawayo to the bustling streets of Harare and eventually settling in the tourist hub of Victoria Falls in 2000, he found his niche selling miniature paintings by the roadside, ingeniously displayed on tree branches, to tourists. It was during this period that Mutomba's affinity for using the palette knife as his primary painting tool flourished.

In 2001, Mutomba relocated to South Africa and swiftly secured representation by esteemed art galleries across Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish Makiwa Galleries in 2014, a triumvirate of art spaces situated in Durban, Franschhoek, and Hermanus. These galleries have since become the principal conduits for his artwork, catering to a diverse international clientele, especially from Europe and the USA.

Mutomba's vibrant beach scenes caught the eye of Woolworths South Africa in 2009, leading to a nationwide distribution of carrier bags adorned with his artwork. That same year, he achieved critical acclaim at the Société Nationale Des Beaux-Arts (SNBA) in Paris, winning an award for his painting at their prestigious annual exhibition held at the Carrousel du Louvre.

Recent commissions include the wine label design in 2022 for "Philosophie," a vintage wine by Vondeling in South Africa, and from 2000 to 2022, Mutomba's works have graced the covers of books, news magazines, and various private collections.

Mutomba's exhibition history is extensive and global, spanning from 2012 to 2022, with participations in numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout South Africa, Zimbabwe, Germany, the Netherlands, India, France, the USA, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. He has showcased his work at prominent art fairs including those in Miami, New York, Paris, and Amsterdam. Noteworthy exhibitions include his 2018 appearances at the New York Art Expo and the Annual Dutch Art Fair in Amsterdam, as well as his 2017 feature at Art Shopping Paris.

Throughout the years, Mutomba has been dedicated to charity work, notably donating paintings to the Lyons Club of Potchefstroom between 2010 and 2011, and contributing to the Guide Dog Association for the Blind. His generosity extended to 2006, where he donated a piece at the behest of the South African High Commissioner to the UK, aiding in raising funds for the Phelophepa Medical Train. In 2007, a painting titled "Grandmother" was contributed to the CatPals Art Auction, further exemplifying his commitment to philanthropic efforts.