Simphiwe Mbunyuza grew up in Butterworth, a small village in South Africa where he discovered his passion for the clay medium while molding clay from the riverbanks into shapes of the farm animals. These formative years have led to the ceramic artist’s solo exhibition at David Kordansky Gallery in Los Angeles, marking a pivotal moment in his artistic journey.
The exhibition, “INTLOMBE,” features a large-scale ceramic chicken, which is an ode to the farm animals of his childhood. Named ISIKHUKHUKAZI (2024), it’s one of the 12 ceramic sculptures that are on display.
The exhibition’s title and format are inspired by the communal musical gatherings of Xhosa-speaking peoples, reflecting the collective and spiritual dimensions of Mbunyuza’s South African heritage, expressed through the medium that first captured his imagination: clay.
The sculptures in “INTLOMBE” are crafted using a coiling technique that allows Mbunyuza to build layers and textures, resulting in striking contrasts across the 12 pieces. As he works, Mbunyuza allows the clay to guide his creative process, choosing to forgo preliminary sketches in favor of the spontaneity and unpredictability that the medium offers.
“As I build, [the clay] overpowers me,” Mbunyuza said in an interview with Artsy, “I can control it [at first], and then it’s controlling me in a different direction,” he said, noting that he’s often surprised by the end product.”
Although far from home, Mbunyuza maintains a deep spiritual connection to his childhood experiences with clay, even as he navigates life in the United States. He often hikes Mount Helena, where he finds comfort and inspiration through prayer at the summit or in the surrounding forest. This enduring connection to his spiritual roots continues to fuel his creative process. The circular arrangement of sculptures at David Kordansky Gallery mirrors the musical Intlombe gatherings of his homeland, a poignant reminder of where his journey began.
“Being spiritually inclined and profoundly connected to my ancestral spiritual world and culture opens a whirl of great ideas that never runs out,” Mbunyuza said. “It is this spiritual whirl that gives birth to the work I make.”
Mbunyuza earned his MFA in 2021 and has since held solo exhibitions at Marianne Boesky Gallery in 2021 and Mindy Solomon Gallery in 2023. Currently, he is an artist in residence at the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, Montana, and his career continues to rise rapidly.
Image credit: via Instagram @simphiwembunyuza
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