Mongezi Ncombo: Crafting Beauty from the Bare Essentials
By Sithembile Moyo
Mongezi Ncombo, a full-time visual artist with over 15 years of professional experience, creates from the heart of Johannesburg’s vibrant August House Studios. Born and raised in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape, Mongezi’s journey as an artist is deeply intertwined with his upbringing in a modest yet creatively rich environment—one that nurtured his natural talent and set the foundation for a lifelong pursuit of artistic expression.
Growing up in an under-resourced community taught Mongezi to innovate with whatever was available. “One of the best rewards for growing up in an underprivileged community is that you develop a very high level of creativity that comes from having to improvise your way through anything when affordability becomes an obstacle,” he reflects. It’s this spirit of resilience and resourcefulness that has shaped both his perspective and practice.
The Eastern Cape, often described as one of South Africa’s cultural and material “wetlands,” played a significant role in Mongezi’s early artistic formation. Surrounded by rich, natural clay and other raw materials, he and his peers molded animals, vehicles, and figurines by hand—an early and intuitive form of sculpture that sparked his imagination. Recycling also became a formative part of his creative play, as he repurposed discarded objects into toys, unknowingly laying the groundwork for a sustainable approach to artmaking that continues to inspire his work today.
Art runs in the family. Mongezi’s father, a gifted and imaginative man, introduced him to the world of drawing and sculpture, while his mother—a teacher—nurtured his skills with enthusiasm. “She used to ask me to draw and paint on big charts in preparation for her school learning areas,” he recalls. These early commissions gave him not only creative freedom but a sense of purpose and contribution from a young age.
Mongezi’s work today is a compelling blend of memory, material, and meaning. His art reflects both a personal and collective history—one where culture, community, and creativity coexist. Through his textured canvases, mixed media pieces, and sculptural forms, he brings stories to life that honor his roots while speaking to contemporary realities.
At August House, where he now practices among some of South Africa’s most dynamic creatives, Mongezi continues to evolve his voice. He sees his studio as not just a workspace, but a place of dialogue, reflection, and growth. His work has garnered attention for its authenticity, tactile richness, and emotional depth—elements that speak directly to the lived experience behind each piece.
As Mongezi Ncombo looks ahead, he remains grounded in the lessons of his youth. From molding clay toys in Mthatha to shaping visions on canvas in Johannesburg, his journey is a testament to the power of creativity born from limitation, and the enduring strength of imagination when nurtured with love and purpose.
