| Artist information: | Simon Mthimkhulu is a South African sculptor and educator whose practice engages with themes of community, urban life, and collective memory. Based in Johannesburg, he has worked extensively in public art, often collaborating with fellow artists to create monumental works that speak to the lived experiences of ordinary South Africans. Public Commissions
Mthimkhulu is well known for his role in the Metro Mall Project (2009), where he, alongside artists Tshidiso Makhetha and Ezekiel Budeli, designed and constructed large-scale sculptures at the Funda Community College in Diepkloof, Soweto, where they were all lecturers at the time. The collaboration produced several iconic works, including pieces installed at the intersection of Bree and West Street (now Lilian Ngoyi Street and Ntemi Piliso Street) in Johannesburg. The project took six months to complete and celebrated the cultural dynamism of the inner city. A significant example is the steel-welded sculpture Mother and Child, situated at 190–170 Lilian Ngoyi Street. This work, recently restored, powerfully represents the experiences of commuters who have passed through the historic Bree Taxi Rank, embedding the rhythms of Johannesburg life into public space. Constitutional Court Art Collection (CCAC)
Mthimkhulu’s practice is also represented in the Constitutional Court Art Collection through his artwork Delighted (CCAC# 0591), which forms part of the Commemorating Sophiatown series. His contribution to this series positions him within broader narratives of cultural resilience and memory in South Africa, linking his public commissions to the heritage-focused mandate of the Court. ReferencesCity of Johannesburg. Metro Mall Project public art documentation, Bree Street, 2009. Records on the restoration of Mother and Child steel sculpture, 190–170 Lilian Ngoyi Street, Johannesburg.
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