Black Women's Art. African woman portrait. "Idlozi loMndau ka mNguni" by Tsholo Motong from South Africa
Black Women's Art. African woman portrait. "Idlozi loMndau ka mNguni" by Tsholo Motong from South Africa
Black Women's Art. African woman portrait. "Idlozi loMndau ka mNguni" by Tsholo Motong from South Africa
Black Women's Art. African woman portrait. "Idlozi loMndau ka mNguni" by Tsholo Motong from South Africa
Black Women's Art. African woman portrait. "Idlozi loMndau ka mNguni" by Tsholo Motong from South Africa
Black Women's Art. African woman portrait. "Idlozi loMndau ka mNguni" by Tsholo Motong from South Africa
Colorful collage art featuring striking eyes, inspired by Soweto's rich history and vibrant culture.
Black Women's Art. African woman portrait. "Idlozi loMndau ka mNguni" by Tsholo Motong from South Africa
Black Women's Art. African woman portrait. "Idlozi loMndau ka mNguni" by Tsholo Motong from South Africa
Black Women's Art. African woman portrait. "Idlozi loMndau ka mNguni" by Tsholo Motong from South Africa
Black Women's Art. African woman portrait. "Idlozi loMndau ka mNguni" by Tsholo Motong from South Africa
Black Women's Art. African woman portrait. "Idlozi loMndau ka mNguni" by Tsholo Motong from South Africa
Black Women's Art. African woman portrait. "Idlozi loMndau ka mNguni" by Tsholo Motong from South Africa
Black Women's Art. African woman portrait. "Idlozi loMndau ka mNguni" by Tsholo Motong from South Africa
Black Women's Art. African woman portrait. "Idlozi loMndau ka mNguni" by Tsholo Motong from South Africa
Colorful collage art featuring striking eyes, inspired by Soweto's rich history and vibrant culture.
Black Women's Art. African woman portrait. "Idlozi loMndau ka mNguni" by Tsholo Motong from South Africa
Black Women's Art. African woman portrait. "Idlozi loMndau ka mNguni" by Tsholo Motong from South Africa
Tsholo Motong

Idlozi loMndau ka mNguni

$2,000.00 Save $-2,000.00
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My work is only inspired by local scenes from Soweto, South Africa, which has a rich history of migrant labour. I use a lot of colour because I believe colour is like a spice of life.

 

Read more about Tsholo
Technique Dimensions
Shweshwe fabric collage and acrylic on canvas 47'' H, 31’’ W
Framing From
Gallery Wrap Soweto, South Africa

Umguni ka Mndau waBalozi no Mdiki, when early European missionaries first landed in Cape colony in the 1700s, Christianity was the first tool used to colonise the natives without warfare.

When the Witchcraft Suppression Act was passed by the NP apartheid regime in 1957, it prohibited Izangoma, Traditional doctors & Spiritual Healers alike. It accused voodoo & witchcraft, it was a crime to practice ubungoma so Bantu people stopped practicing & adopted a new Christian religion introduced by the missionaries. They changed their names into Biblical, stopped wearing animal skins, beadwork, body scarification, as way of being accepted in missionary schools, workplaces & churches.

Certain colours, patterns, plants & animals are a form of reincarnation carrying spirits of ancestry lineage, thokoza ingwe yamabala okhehla no 'gogo.

By Splash Motong
  • Domestic: FREE shipping
  • International: calculated at checkout
  • Ships from San Francisco, CA
  • Ships within: 1-3 days for originals, 10-14 for prints
  • Delivery time: 5-7 days for domestic, 10-14 for international
  • Shipping & Taxes: calculated at checkout
  • Returns: 30 days for originals, sales are final for prints

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Original Painting on Canvas:   

Original, authentic, one-of-a-kind, and unique artwork painted on cotton or linen canvas. 
Our paintings are stretched in California on wooden stretcher bars, and stapled on the back of the painting
Some paintings have a wooden, custom-made frame around it.  If the "Gallery Wrap" is specified, then there's no wooden frame, and the canvas is wrapped around the edges.
All paintings are shipped with a certificate of authenticity, hanging nails, and are ready to hang on a wall.

Canvas Print:

A reproduction of the original artwork on canvas.

High-quality archival canvas with Matte UV protective varnish.  The canvas is then stretched on 1.5'' hard-wood stretcher bars.  Learn more...

Canvas prints are shipped gallery wrapped on stretcher bars, with hanging nails and are ready to hang on a wall.

HD Metal Print:

A reproduction of the original artwork on a high-definition aluminum panel.
Our ChromaLux HD metal prints have a beautiful vibrancy and luminosity.  Made by infusing dyes directly into aluminum.  They are lightweight, durable, easy to clean, and can be displayed without framing or placing behind glass.
Metal prints are shipped with a back-frame, hanging nails, and are ready to hang on a wall.
  • Authenticity Guarantee: We receive all artwork directly from artists. We vet each one personally, know them well, and are in contact with them. We stand behind every artwork.
  • Privacy Guarantee: We respect your privacy and will never share your personal information with a third party. We never share your purchase history with anyone and respect your marketing preferences. Learn more...
  • Money Back Guarantee: We have an industry-leading 30-day money-back guarantee on all original artwork. We would like you to be satisfied with your purchase. Learn more...

Tsholo “Splash” Motong is a South African artist and a fashion designer.

Being born and bred in the biggest township in South Africa - Soweto, his keen inspiration has always been influenced by the vibrant & colorful lifestyle that Soweto offers.

Soweto has always influenced the country through politics, sports, music, and culture. It is also the only place in the world with two Nobel Prize winners: Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu.

Splash discovered his creativity and artistic potential at a young age. As a colorful artist, he relishes using bright colors (“a spice of life,” as he calls them). His main inspiration is his grandmother, hence the dominance of women in his artwork.

“She was my pillar, she raised me up from the ground up. She used to do crafts like knitting and crochet, so that’s how I started learning how to work with fabrics and colors and enjoy textures. She didn’t scold me when I told her I want to venture into this career.”

Whenever he uses fabrics, he ensures that they have African roots:

Shweshwe from Lesotho and South Africa, Swazi from Swaziland, Kalanga from Zimbabwe, and different fabric prints from Ghana.

“I do use different fabrics from different cultures, countries and tribes to tell a single story that resonates with all the cultures.”

Interview with Tsholo

We sat down with Tsholo in October 2023 before his second solo exhibit at Art House SF.

Read the interview

"Faces of Soweto"

Tsholo returns to Art House SF with his second solo exhibit in August 2023. Titled "Faces of Soweto" in this exhibit, Tsholo Motong presents the people around him, people of Soweto.

He tells their stories with insightful clarity and compassion.

See the exhibit

"Proud and Beautiful"

Tsholo's first solo exhibit at Art House SF in August 2022. For the first time we're introduced to the amazing world of Shweshwe fabric and his fabric collages.

see the exhibit

Frequently Asked Questions:

Is this artwork original? How is it framed?
Under "TECHNIQUE" column above, if it says Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, or Fabric then yes, this is authentic, original, one-of-the-kind artwork delivered to us directly by the artist and stretched & framed in California. If it says "Print", then this is a very accurate reproduction of the original work.
  		Every work is ready to be hung and, in most cases, framed. See under "FRAMING" column above. One of the photos of the artwork is always with a frame. We try to pick the best frame for each work, see our framing guide for details.
 
Can you help me visualize the artwork? How do I buy an artwork I like?
If you email us a photo of your room, we'll photoshop the artwork so you can see how it'd fit in your house. We can also send you a video of an artwork so you can see it from all sides. See our YouTube channel for examples.
  		You can click "Add to Cart" button and checkout through our secure website. Alternatively, you can email us, we'll answer any questions you have and will send you an invoice. You can pay with a credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, or split payments into multiple.
 
Can you help me install the artwork? What's your return policy?
Each package includes everything you need to install the artwork: a level, nails, microfiber cloth, even a small tape measure. For large paintings in the SF Bay Area, we'll include a FREE art installation service as well.
  		If for any reason you don't like the artwork, please return it to us within 30 days in the original condition. We'll gladly accept it and issue a full refund minus the return shipping cost. Art prints are custom products and are not eligible for returns.
 
Do you ship internationally? How long will my order take?
Yes, we do. We shipped paintings to Austria, Australia, Canada, France, Belgium, Germany, the UK. All were delivered without any issues and promptly, ~2 weeks with UPS Ground. Rates were from $60 to $140, so quite reasonable. Email us to estimate shipping charges. We ship within 1-3 business days with UPS Ground. Shipping times are 2-3 days to the West Coast and 5-7 days to the East Coast. Fine art prints are made to order, so they're shipped within 10-14 days after placing an order.
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