Papytsho Mafolo Congolese, b. 1977
Fragments of bodies half man and half animal often appear in his painting, which tell the realities of an African culture fragmented by foreign hegemony.
In practice, his techniques usually involve a collage of golden leaves, printed images, acrylic but also oil paint and unfinished lines on a canvas. These unfinished lines, according to Mafolo, evoke an infinite world but also as a self-reminder that artistically, he has not arrived yet.
Open-minded, Mafolo does not hesitate to experiment with new styles and techniques after research or during new artistic encounters which results are reflected, moreover, by the energy that emerges in his works.
Papytsho Mafolo (b. 1977, Democratic Republic of Congo), lives and works in Brussels, Belgium) is a mixed-media artist whose practice examines the relationship between cultural identity, human behaviour, and historical memory, with a particular focus on African societies shaped by displacement, colonial legacy, and resilience. Drawing on his Congolese heritage and personal experience of relocation, Mafolo’s work reflects on how identities are fractured, reconfigured, and sustained over time.
Working primarily in drawing and painting, Mafolo is known for densely composed, linear, and highly detailed surfaces in which fragmented bodies—often hybrid forms combining human and animal elements—emerge as recurring motifs. These figures function as metaphors for cultures and identities subjected to external hegemony and historical rupture. His compositions unfold through accumulative mark-making, with each detail operating like a vignette or chapter within a larger narrative structure, emphasising continuity, survival, and transformation.
Mafolo received his training at the Academy of Fine Arts and the Institute of Fine Arts in Kinshasa, and later expanded his technical practice through studies in digital and visual technologies in Spain. His work has been presented widely across Africa, Europe, and North America, including solo exhibitions at the Judizmendi Cultural Center, Vitoria-Gasteiz (2016), Espace Mushagalusha, Montreal (2014), and Banque TMB, Kinshasa (2013). His work has also featured in numerous curated group exhibitions, including presentations at the World Bank, Washington, D.C. (2019), and exhibitions in London, Paris, Cape Town, and Johannesburg.
Mafolo has received multiple awards recognising his early and sustained artistic contribution, including prizes from UNESCO, the Rotary Club, and cultural institutions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa. Through an evolving and experimental practice, Mafolo continues to explore themes of destruction and renewal, articulating a visual language in which catastrophe gives way to reconstruction, and new forms emerge from loss.
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Prizim Art Fair 2020
December 1 - December 21 9 Dec 2020Prizm is pleased to present a dynamic fair with layered programming that is sure to capture the eyes and minds of our attendees. With over...Read more
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The Alchemy of Colour
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A Celebration of Contemporary African Art
Dive into the vibrant world of contemporary African art 14 Dec 2024 - 14 Jan 2025Art exhibition featuring ten visionary contemporary African artists whose works span generations and diverse artistic styles. The exhibition features the works of Marcel Tchopwe, Papytsho Mafolo, Aza Mansongi, Sinalo Ngcaba, Hussein Salim, Lefifi Tladi, Ilana Seati, Samson Mnisi, Usen Obot and the globally revered Dr. Esther Mahlangu.Read more
