The Artistic Journey
I am a South African contemporary artist whose work explores rural identity, cultural heritage, and everyday life in Limpopo. Following my matriculation, I pursued formal art training at Tshwane TVET North College (TNC), where I studied Art and Graphic Design in 2015.
Rooted in the rhythms of Limpopo, the artist transforms the raw, organic textures of traditional grass mats into a dialogue between heritage and contemporary aesthetics.
Exhibitions
2026
Heritage in Motion
Group Exhibition
MEDIA PRESENCE
Fumani Walter Maluleke uses reed mats as a canvas. (Photo: Bridget Hilton-Barber)
Creative inner-city hubs bring bold new art to Johannesburg A network of studios across the city is reviving Jozi’s art scene, with artists bringing to life bright, often mixed-media pieces that have a distinct African flavour.
Artist Fumani Maluleke stands next to his signature xitheve artwork during his fundraising event for an exhibition trip to New York. Photo: Sipho Sisoheading
Artist dreams of an explosion of tourists for xitheves. I harbour dreams of an explosion of American and European tourists to Africa to buy xitheves and xitheve artworks and thereby uplift our rural grannies who toil day in and day out to produce the xitheves, says artist Fumani Maluleke.
Giyani visual artist, Fumani Maluleke, with his grass mat art that is currently exhibited at the Unisa Art Gallery in Pretoria
Giyani artist turns grass mat into international sensation Artist Fumani Maluleke transforms traditional Tsonga grass mats into striking artworks gaining global recognition.
Fumani Maluleke wearing a grass mat.
Tsonga artist’s ‘mistake’ turns into a global masterpiece
