Billy Makhubele
| Artist Name: | Billy Makhubele |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Year of birth: | 1947 |
| Artist information: | Billy Makhubele was born in 1947 in Modjadjiskloof (formerly Duiwelskloof), Limpopo. His career began with selling wire bicycles by the side of the road; nevertheless, his life reportedly changed when he walked into the Natalie Knight Gallery in Hyde Park. He asked Knight whether she would be interested in collecting Shangaan-Tsonga beads, as she had co-authored a book titled Ndebele Images with Suzanne Priebatsch in 1983. Knight purchased the beaded ncekas (wrap-around cloths) made by his children and wives to preserve South African history. In addition to being a collector of Ndebele and Shangaan-Tsonga attire, he was a pioneer in the creation of wire sculptures. In 1985, he was selected to represent South Africa at the Valparaiso Biennale in Chile. The Constitutional Court Art Collection is one of the numerous collections that house his and his family's artwork. Makhubele designed the beaded pieces for the We Love Mandela exhibition at Sandton's Nelson Mandela Square in 2013. His wives, along with their children, finished the beadwork. Sources: http://www.writerstudio.co.za/lana-jacobson-portfolio/lana-jacobson-art-writing/66-billy-makhubele-stirs-waters.html [Accessed 30 August 2024] Billy.Makhubele@southafricanartists.com [Accessed 30 August 2024] http://www.southafricanartists.com/artists/billy-makhubele-3339 [Accessed 30 August 2024] http://www.writerstudio.co.za/lana-jacobson-portfolio/lana-jacobson-art-writing/67-billy-makhubela.htmln [Accessed 30 August 2024] |
