Art Residency

ABOUT

Founded by Nomaza Nongqunga Coupez, the Makwande Art Residency is a non-profit contemporary visual art organisation that fosters creativity, research, and experimentation through its international residency program for emerging African Female artists.

Our aim is to nurture female artistic growth and cultural enlightenment. Empower and champion equality in the arts.

Located in the South of France, on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Makwande Art Residency offers time and space in a contemplative and supportive environment, giving residents the freedom to think, create, and connect.

Makwande Art Residency encourages crucial exploratory work, with a focus on the emerging contemporary art scene.

Makwande Art Residency supports emerging African female artists in realizing their projects and establishing their creative practice on an international scale. Additionally, Makwande Art Residency emphasizes the importance of self-care during the residency and advocates for artists to take time in learning how to balance work and restoration.

Nthabiseng Boledi Kekana

Nice | South of France

June 2023

Makwande Art Residence is proud to announce their third and youngest artist in residency, Nthabiseng Boledi Kekana. The talented artist hailing from Alexander township, South Africa, is set to begin her 7-week residency in June of 2023 in the South of France.

An excited, albeit nervous 24-year-old Kekana is looking forward to her first international trip. Raised by a single mother in one of South Africa's poorest townships, pursuing her dreams has not been easy but has been sustained by a deep sense of purpose. The residency award is an affirmation of years of hard work and unbridled talent. She says 'I do not have expectations because expectations can limit one's experience. I simply want to fully embrace a new world and interpret it as I see it. I am keen to investigate European art beyond what I learned in art school, to draw lines back to its African influences.'

Lesego Seoketsa

Mandelieu La Napoule | South of France

May 2022

Makwande welcomes another young female and talented African artist - Lesego Seoketsa - to Mandelieu La Napoule, France, to be part of it's accelerator program.

Lesego will continue to explore her series titled "Amacici" which translates to earrings in isiZulu. This series of artworks are inspired by the practice of adornment and beautifying oneself, with jewelry, fashion, and make-up. Jewelry was forbidden in Lesego's childhood because of her family's religious beliefs. Adornment and beautifying oneself is one of Lesego's repressed childhood desires, and as an adult, she begins to explore and redefine what adornment means. As a child living in the township, Lesego would see women with gold teeth, long and glamorous nails, and different color hairstyles.

Lulama Wolf

Antibes, South of France

September 2021

Undiscovered Canvas in partnership with the Municipality of the City of Antibes. Undiscovered Canvas is honored to welcome Lulama Wolf at the Villa Fontaine in Antibes on the Cote d'Azur.

The villa located near by the Safranier settlement, overlooking Nikos Kazantzakis’s square. The location is idyllic with a view of the ramparts and Cap d'Antibes. The landlord, Marie-Jeanne Fontaine, born Aimé, was a friend of Arts & Letters. When she died in October 1990, she bequeathed her house to Antibes City, in order to invite artists (photographers, painters, sculptors or writers) during their residence.

Lulama will be exploring themes that she has been working on during her practice, these themes explore different expression and variations of spirituality and yearnings of rest. ‘Iyabukisa Izondisa ngbangaboni ‘ (it is so beautiful even the blind are not offended )

Art Residency: Project : Makwande Art Residency

ABOUT

Nthabiseng Boledi Kekana

Lesego Seoketsa

Lulama Wolf

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