Mashilo Magongoa | Fish Hoek – Cape Town | Artist and Sculptor

 

Mashilo was born and raised in Mokopane, Limpopo, where he grew up surrounded by the vibrant visual culture of township life.

His interest in art began at the age of 14, when he created a model of a typical township house using cardboard and clay. The work received enthusiastic praise from people in his community and encouraged him to spend more time observing local artists and the ways in which they depicted everyday township life.

Although he had always loved art, Mashilo’s parents encouraged him to pursue teaching as a career. After qualifying as a teacher, he continued his studies in fine art and graduated from the Michaelis School of Fine Art at the University of Cape Town in 1995, specialising in sculpture.

Today, Mashilo is a qualified teacher, artist, sculptor, linguistic translator and media specialist. His practice combines formal artistic training with creativity and craftsmanship to produce distinctive, handcrafted works that are both expressive and enduring.

Mashilo is the youngest in his family and maintains close ties with his sisters, aunts, nieces and nephews in Limpopo. He now lives in Fish Hoek, Cape Town, with his wife and two children.

Selected Exhibitions

• Emerging Artists Programme Pop-Up Exhibition, City of Cape Town, 2025
• 13th Annual Bonsai Festival, City of Cape Town Recreation and Parks Department, 2025

Medium: Sculpture and mixed media

Instagram: @mashiloart