Thami Jali is a South African painter and sculptor who is presently working in Nelspruit, Mpumulanga Province. He currently trains individuals in ceramics in a studio, an enterpize which is funded by the Department of Art and Culture.
Born in Durban (1955), Jali studied at Rorke’s Drift Art Centre, 1981-1982. He furthered his studies, in ceramics, at the Natal Technikon, during the same time in which he was also a founder of Art Communications, 1983-84. In 1990 he went to the Institute of Contemporary Art, London, to take part in the Zabalaza Festival.
Jali participated in many group exhibitions and his works have been included in many collections both public and private, including: the Durban Art Gallery, Tatham Art Gallery, The Constitutional Court and the University of Zululand. In addition Jali won the first prize Sculpture award at the Festival of African Arts, University of Zululand, for his wood sculpture, Mama (Birth)