Arts and Creative Industries / Visual Arts / Q&A with Ndlovukazi Ngilande: Absa L’Atelier Gerard Sekoto Award winner

Q&A with Ndlovukazi Ngilande: Absa L’Atelier Gerard Sekoto Award winner

Arts and Creative Industries
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20 October

South African painter and sculptor Ndlovukazi Ngilande has been named the winner of the 2025 Gerard Sekoto Award. We caught up with her to find out more about her background, art, and hopes for the future.

  • How did you feel when you found out you’d won the 2025 Gerard Sekoto Award?

Honestly, I am still trying to process this win, not only did I win the award, but this is my breakthrough, a confirmation that my work is indeed bigger than me, that I am guided by something greater. It was both a celebration and calling to continue creating with purpose, pride and authenticity.

  • Can you tell us what inspires your art and the themes you like to explore?

I’m inspired by the strength, beauty and vital roles of African women in society, identity and culture. The themes I like to explore are centred around womanhood, identity, culture and the sacred power found in African traditions and aesthetics.

  • Your work often celebrates African women – What message do you hope people take away when they see your pieces?

I believe African womanhood is something sacred, multifaceted and worthy of honour and through my work I want people to walk away with a genuine appreciation for the strength, beauty and spirit of African women, a deeper connection to identity, culture and that there’s beauty in everything and everything is worth being celebrated.

  • Who or what has influenced your artistic journey the most?

My identity has mostly influenced my artistic journey, my culture and the need to keep alive that which was started/planted by my ancestors and contribute to it’s evolution.

  • What are you most excited to do next after winning the award?

I’m mostly excited about the Paris residency, where I will connect with the global art community. I cannot wait to learn about other people’s cultures, the Parisian culture and find ways in which I can honour and celebrate their culture through art. I am also excited about my solo show, collaborating with other artists and exploring different mediums, getting out of my comfort zone.

 

Read more about this year’s Absa L’Atelier Awards here.

Meet all the Absa L’Atelier Gerard Sekoto Award winners here.

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