Ready to apply for the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme?
You can also participate in a life-changing mentorship programme like Sphesihle!
Apply nowBy Heather Dugmore
At just 21, visual artist, Sphesihle Hlatshwayo, is already carving out a distinctive place for himself in South Africa’s contemporary art landscape. Using an unlikely mix of tissue paper, scraps of wood, candle flame and smoke, he creates portraits that feel both ancient and strikingly modern.
A 2023 finalist in the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme funded by Nedbank, MTN Foundation and Sun International. Sphesihle has steadily grown his reputation. ‘Achieving this aesthetic is all about persistence, patience and giving the pieces love,’ he says.
Each year, 2 young artists – 1 from performing arts and 1 from visual/digital arts – receive a scholarship valued at R300 000 to study at a South African arts institution of their choice. Although Sphesihle didn’t win, he remained determined to study further and is now a third-year fine arts student at the Tshwane University of Technology.
His work recently drew national attention when a portrait he created of American YouTuber and streaming sensation, IShowSpeed, was featured in YOU Magazine – a moment that propelled his unique style into the global digital spotlight.
A moment that went viral
When Sphesihle discovered that IShowSpeed was in Johannesburg, he made a spontaneous decision that changed everything. Watching the live stream to pinpoint the streamer’s location, he rushed to Johannesburg’s Maboneng precinct by taxi, carrying a large portrait he had created of the internet celebrity.
‘It was a risk,’ he admits. ‘I spent money I didn’t really have to get there, not knowing if I would even meet him.’ But he did – and the reaction was worth it. IShowSpeed was stunned by the artwork. Although he couldn’t take the large piece with him, he signed it, instantly transforming it into a unique cultural artefact.
The encounter spread quickly online. Sphesihle’s social media following surged and his story was featured in a large spread in YOU Magazine. He now has more than 130 000 followers on TikTok and over 150 000 on Facebook, where viewers flock to watch his smoke-drawing process.
Alchemy of smoke and flame
His technique developed out of circumstance. Growing up in Daveyton, east of Johannesburg, there was no money for traditional drawing materials, but his great-grandmother recognised his unique talent and would give him tissue paper to draw on. In high school, he began assembling scraps of wood to create experimental canvases.
‘It was challenging learning to draw on such fragile paper, but I made it work,’ he says. ‘In matric, I began to see what I could achieve with candle flame and smoke. It took love, persistence and patience to refine the aesthetic – it’s almost like alchemy.’
He describes the process as meditative. ‘I connect with the smoke and the movement of the fire. I allow the flame to become part of the artwork’s language.’ The resulting portraits are immaculately detailed, enriched by the burn patterns that add texture and narrative.
Art absorbed him
‘When I was growing up, no one in my township thought of art as a career,’ he reflects. ‘But I was privileged to have my great-grandmother and mother encouraging me.’
Coming from a musical family, he studied both music and visual arts at school, but visual arts ultimately claimed him. By Grade 12, when he began experimenting with various mediums, he realised that visual storytelling allowed him to explore identity, history and emotion.
He attended the East Rand School of the Arts, close to home but his journey was not without challenges. As a township student pursuing art, he often faced dismissive attitudes and misconceptions about his academic ability. ‘People would say I studied art because I was a slow learner,’ he says. ‘Now they see what I’m doing and want their children to follow the same path.’
It was at this school that he learned about the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme when ACT’s Communication and Marketing Coordinator, Keitumetse Mbatha, visited to inform the learners.
The mentorship changed everything
Sphesihle credits much of his professional growth to being a finalist in the programme. Each year, 15 visual/digital arts finalists participate in masterclasses, visit prominent art institutions, engage with industry leaders and create a professional exhibition. They also undergo 3 months of intensive training and mentorship every second week, offered to more than 60 selected participants across all 9 provinces.
Spesihle’s mentor, Fleur de Bondt, played a pivotal role. ‘I began to understand the art market, gallery expectations and the unpredictable nature of income in the arts,’ he explains. ‘You might earn well one month and nothing the next. The programme taught us how to navigate that and how to build the business side for a more consistent income.’
His mentors also helped him refine his artistic voice while encouraging him to stay true to the experimental style that sets him apart. ‘Most importantly, it helped me believe in myself,’ he says.
A growing presence in the art world
Sphesihle is steadily making his mark. His portraits have been featured in exhibitions at the Pretoria State Theatre and the Pretoria Art Museum, and he was selected as a finalist in the Sasol New Signatures Visual Arts Competition.
Reimagining Black representation
While portraiture currently dominates his commissions, Sphesihles’s ambitions extend far beyond his signature medium.
‘I’m experimenting with more abstract images, and I want to work in marble. It’s such an interesting medium, and I’m inspired by the old masters like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.’
But his vision is distinctly contemporary. ‘I want to celebrate Blackness in marble. We don’t often see that. I’m creating for the generation of tomorrow. Being Black shouldn’t be about the struggle alone. I want young Black children to see themselves as powerful and full of possibility.’
A way-maker for the next generation
Ultimately, Sphesihle hopes his work will open doors – not just for himself, but for young artists from communities where creativity is often dismissed as impractical.
‘My dream is to become a globally recognised artist,’ he says. ‘But more importantly, I want to be a way-maker.’
For the young artist who once faced scepticism for choosing art, the journey from Daveyton to international digital audiences is proof that imagination and courage can ignite extraordinary possibilities. Sometimes, all it takes is a candle, a flame and the patience to let the smoke tell its story.
Celebrating 32 years of arts excellence – Arts & Culture Trust
The ACT is South Africa’s premier independent development and art investment organisation. The primary aim of ACT is to increase the capacity for arts and culture initiatives to create sustainable futures through development and investment in innovative, sustainable projects that make a meaningful contribution to society. Through structured development programmes, ACT provides support to all expressions of arts and culture, including literature, music, visual art, theatre, and dance. This support extends to festivals, community arts initiatives, as well as arts management, education, and administration.
Over the past 32 years, ACT has supported more than 830+ arts, culture, and heritage development projects countrywide, including small businesses. For more information, visit the ACT website, follow them on X, or like their Facebook page.
About Nedbank
In partnership with ACT, the Nedbank Arts Affinity has donated more than R32 million over 32 years to support 830+ arts, culture, and heritage development projects countrywide. If you would like to make a difference in the lives of talented young artists in South Africa, simply link your Nedbank Greenbacks to the Arts Affinity and Nedbank will donate money to ACT, at no cost to you. The Arts Affinity currently supports the ACT Nyoloha Scholarship Programme, the ACT Thuthukisani Programme, and the ACT Tlholo Project. For more information, visit any Nedbank branch, call 0860 555 111 or go to nedbankarts.co.za.
About Sun International
Sun International is a leading South African gaming, hospitality and entertainment group, with a portfolio of 15 hotels, 2 premier resorts, 11 casinos and online betting through its SunBet platform. Known for iconic destinations such as Sun City and the Wild Coast Sun, the group delivers premium leisure and conferencing experiences to local and international guests. Beyond its core operations, Sun International is committed to sustainability and socio-economic development, supporting initiatives that create meaningful impact in communities across South Africa. This includes more than 30 years of support for the Arts & Culture Trust, contributing to the development of arts and culture projects nationwide.
About MTN South Africa
Launched in 1994, MTN South Africa is a subsidiary of MTN Group, a leading emerging-market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to its customers. They are inspired by their belief that everyone deserves the benefits of modern connected life. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code ‘MTN’. Their strategy is Ambition 2026: Leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress.
Follow MTN:
twitter.com/MTNza
linkedin.com/company/mtn