Manyoni, Bhekisani

Bhekisani Manyoni was born in Greytown, KwaZulu Natal in September 1945. His family later moved to the Dundee area, near Rorke's Drift, where he attended the Rorke's Drift Art School. Manyoni was mentored there by Leon de Smit, a Belgian-born artist. He attended classes in fine arts, ceramics and weaving. In the center there Manyoni befriended John Muafengejo, who had a major influence on his future work. In 1970, Manyoni was appointed as a curator of the Pandora Gallery in Mbabane, Swaziland. In 1979 he began to teach at the Katlehong Art Gallery. He is the recipient of the Hans Merensky Trust Award. Bhekisani Manyoni specializes in ceramic sculptures and in linocuts design. He has exhibited in numerous countries, amongst them Holland and Germany. Manyoni creativity encompasses wood carvings as well.