A chicken feather instead of a brush, this is what South African artist Esther Mahlangu (85 years old) uses to draw straight black lines outside in her wonderful paintings, with its geometric designs taken from the environment and heritage.

This grandmother hails from Mpumalanga province, and began the hobby of drawing various designs in bright colors and bright, just as most girls from the Nedbeli tribe do, as drawing is a way to attract a husband as this art expresses a wonderful personality for a future wife.

However, her hobby, which developed into rich wall paintings with exquisite designs, was not only granted by the husband, but more than that, her fame has flown to far horizons, and her paintings are displayed in the best museums in the world, and celebrities seek collectors of artworks - such as the bright broadcaster Opera Winfrey- to acquire it.

Two works by South African artist Esther Mahlangu at an exhibition in Johannesburg (German)

Get a husband

In an interview with German News Agency, Mahlangu said with a laugh, "I did not start drawing for commercial purposes; rather, just to get a husband. She explained - as she always does a set of heavyweight traditional jewelry and necklaces containing a group of brightly colored beads - that the culture of her tribe sees that the house is, The walls of which are beautifully decorated indicates that the girl who inhabits it will become a good wife.

The African artist collaborated with a number of luxury car companies to paint her traditional paintings with abstract geometric designs, which belong to the African Needle Art on her cars, and despite her success on the global level, Mahlangu still lives in one of the poorest provinces in South Africa, and is currently Teaches Nedbeli tribe arts to children.

“I don’t want my culture to die,” Mahlangu emphasized during her biggest exhibition on her country's land recently, at the Melrose Art Hall in Johannesburg, where the stars of the community meet and think about buying a $ 10,000 piece of artwork.

Muzzle in bright colors

"I was really affected by the Corona pandemic, and a number of my students were unable to attend lessons, and I am concerned because this is how we teach our children our roots," added Mahlangu, speaking behind a brightly decorated muzzle.

Mahlangu's artistic beginnings were humble, so she painted frescoes on huts and small houses;

But then she set out to the world of fame, decorating her geometric models of various colors with everything that could come to mind, from airplanes to handbags.

Her artworks have had the opportunity to be exhibited in various parts of the world, and among the most prominent places to display are the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, the American Smithsonian Institute, and the George Pompidou Center in Paris, where she began her first international exhibition in the late eighties of the twentieth century.

In addition to Oprah Winfrey - who painted a mural for her girls' school in Johannesburg - her work was bought by a number of celebrities such as American acting and singing stars John Legend, Usher and Will Smith, as well as South African actor and broadcaster Trevor Noah.

South African artist Easter Mahlangu intends to use her art to preserve the cultural heritage of her (German) region

A time of African art

In this regard, Craig Mark, director of the Melrose Hall of Arts in Johannesburg, said, "Many people see that the present time is the time of African art. Art lovers look at their artistic collections and say that we need dark-faced artists, as this allows for a wider diversity and representation of international art schools."

Mark continues, "The most famous collectors in the world buy Mahlangu's art, and unlike many artists, the demand for her work has increased."

Rosy Rossik, who curated the recent Mahlangu exhibition, agrees. "There are different waves of art. There was a Chinese wave, and now there is an African wave," she says.

A chicken feather and a pointy eye

Mahlangu is upset when someone asks her how, at the age of 85, she can still keep her hands steady enough to draw the black outlines of her brightly colored abstract shapes.


Confirm that it does not use tape for fixation;

But she only uses a chicken feather and a retained eye.