Kimathi Mafofo's Feminist Utopia

We love it when contemporary artists surprise us with the medium and technique they work with. And added bonus when it's actually not even a new technique, but an ancient one which, through their work, they've helped to keep alive. South African multidisciplinary artist, Kimathi Mafofo, does this with her fascinating hand and machine embroidered tapestries.

Mafofo’s work has typically centred around women, depicting them in (almost) harmony with colourful flowers in bloom and lush natural landscapes; but caught in a light veil, which both protects them but reduces their interactions with the world. This is actually relatable to many women’s circumstances, and Mafofo does an amazing job of bringing this to light and into conversations.

But in her 2020 work (shown below) which was exhibited in the Feminist Utopia group show by Ebony/Curated, she removes this veil and shows her women interacting fully with the world and being more confident than ever before. This is the story we want every woman and girl to personalise.

See more of Kimathi Mafofo’s work here.