Nhlanhla Nhlapo (b. 1988) grew up in Frankfort in the Free State. He moved to Pretoria to pursue his passion for art, where he studied Fine Arts at Tshwane University of Technology in 2015.
Nhlapo’s practice examines Dutch masters’ techniques and 17th century Dutch landscape painting as a point of departure, situating it in the South African landscape and his hometown of Frankfurt in particular and populating it with images from his family albums.
From 2013 – 2018, Nhlapo participated in various group exhibitions at amongst others, the Pretoria Arts Association (group show 2015 curated by Johan Conradie, Lizamore and Associates Gallery in Johannesburg, and Franschhoek’s Is Art Gallery, Knysna Fine Arts. Turbine Art Fair 2016-18, Hermanus Fine Arts Festival 2016, and a two-man show with Helena Hugo 2016 at Trent Gallery. From 2017-19, Nhlapo was a mentee in the Johannes Stegman Mentorship program, where he was mentored by Jaco van Schalkwyk.
Nhlapo presented a mini solo-show at the Woordfees Festival in 2018 where he was nominated as one of three artists for special mention in the Visual Arts Programme. In 2018 on residency, he collaborated with Louis Jansen van Vuuren from France. Nhlapo completed numerous portrait commissions for both private collectors and companies. He has most recently been commissioned by Unisa to make an Academic Portrait of Chairperson Mr Simelane. Over the years his work has been collected locally and internationally, specifically in France, the United States, California and Germany. In 2023 he participated at the RMB Latitudes Art Fair with Gallery 2, and in 2025 participated again with The First Light with Hope Gallery.
Artists Statement – Tears are Only Water
Nhlapo explores the Politics of the ‘Self’- an exploration of his personal history in an African and global context. The artist draws inspiration from landscape paintings, portraits and photographs from his family photo albums and the immediate surroundings of his hometown Frankfort in the Free State.
The imagery deals with concepts of nostalgia, community, survival and decolonization. Portrait, interior, exterior and landscape juxtapose to underline the fugitive nature of time. The skilled and compassionate portrayal of the people and places he draws and paints, in diffused and subtle colour harmonies, create a mood of introspection, but also confronts the viewer with serious issues around land expropriation and the trauma and transformation of a community in Post-Apartheid South Africa.
‘Cry the Beloved Country’ Rotten Apple, Dump Cane and Abandoned Associate FlagArtist’s Mother Holding a PlateBarren LandscapeGold and BeautyDumping SiteA Colony Symbolized by its MonumentLerato Holding her Child’s ToysA Maid and a Boss’ SonGrandmother and GranddaughterA Thinking BoyStudy of Father and SonPortrait of a GirlFather and Son’s FriendPortrait of a Boy #2Portrait of a BoyFriendsA BoyFree State Landscape #32 Free State Landscape #33Free State Landscape #31AbstractionDisappearing into the Landscapes Matters and ConflictsDaily Conflicts and Torments of the Past – Sold Walking AloneLandscape StudyHunting DogBroken But StrongFootpath Free State Landscape #27Free State Landscape #30Free State Landscape #29Free State Landscape #25Free State Landscape #28Free State Landscape #26
