Artist Biography

Born in Grahamstown, He is a young and largely self-taught artist. Though he studied at the Port Elizabeth College majoring in Graphic Design, Banele has evolved and developed over the years from his background as a self-taught artist devoting his time between his studio practice and giving art classes at the Masifunde Learner Development NGO based in Walmer township.

A recent exploration using found objects has seen his art works and mediums change and evolve, the objects utilised includes metal, boards, wood and plastic canisters and canvasses metaphorically expressed. His works focuses on community and the social lives of the majority of black South Africans, documenting scenes from everyday life.  Initially, a majority of his works utilised oil on zinc currently he uses found objects like bolts nuts, steel, metal, wire, nails, timber and so forth in his sculpture pieces.

Banele believes that in order to serve historical notes or contemporary references, his preponderant metaphor is the documentation of historical and everyday lifestyle and livelihood in black neighbourhoods. Banele’s works are fluid and captures the industriousness of labour with vibrant colours.

Education

Banele’s formal art training plays no vital role in his narratives as evidenced in his overall technical delivery in any material of his choice. Though he studied art and design briefly at Russell Road College before seeking arts training within NGO run tutelage, his works distinguishes itself by his approach and execution.

Awards

2015 – FRUITS OF DEMOCRACY- Gold Award Honouree of excellence in the category of arts and culture 2014- Nelson Mandela Bay

2016 – Cape Town International Art Fair, Cape Town
– Ambassador’s Footprint, Galerie NOKO, Port Elizabeth

2014 – The NewNowNext Eastern Cape Emerging artist’s competition – Second Prize, Gallery Noko, Port Elizabeth

2011 – New Signatures – Merit Award, Artec Community art gallery, Port Elizabeth

Selected Exhibitions

2015

  • Johannesburg Art Fair, Johannesburg
  • Fresh Produce, Turbine Art Fair, Johannesburg
  • The Factor X Discourse, Galerie Noko, Port Elizabeth

Group exhibitions

2014

  • NewNowNext Eastern Cape Contemporary Emerging Artists, Galerie Noko
  • Wish you were here – Athenaeum, Port Elizabeth
  • Singobani? Siyaphi? Sisingiselephi?  Athenaeum, Port Elizabeth
  • City Illuminated, Two Man exhibition, GFI Gallery, Port Elizabeth
  • Group Show, Gallery Guichard, Chicago Illinois-USA
  • Who’s who? What’s New, Nelson Mandela Art Museum, Port Elizabeth

2013

The South African Bridge to Chicago #2 – Gallery Guichard, Chicago, Illinois, USA

2012

  • The South African Bridge to Chicago- Gallery Guichard, Chicago, Illinois, USA
  • Who’s who? What’s New? – Nelson Mandela Art Museum, Port Elizabeth
  • Reflections on women- Albany Museum- Grahamstown

2011

  • Artec New signatures- Artec Gallery, Port Elizabeth
  • Artec’s Annual exhibition- Artec Gallery, Port Elizabeth
  • Who’s who? What’s New, Nelson Mandela Art Museum, Port Elizabeth
  • Selected Eastern Cape Artists, Athenaeum, Port Elizabeth
  • Who’s Who What’s New- Nelson Mandela Art Museum, Port Elizabeth

2005

Isandla Paper Studio

2004

Egazini Outreach Project Group Show, Isandla Paper Studio

Collections

  • Mandela Bay Development Agency
  • Rand Merchant Bank
  • PPC
  • Shawshank Construction
  • Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism