Omolemo-Aobakwe Kgope, born in 2004 in Pretoria, South Africa, is a multidisciplinary artist deeply invested in exploring themes of community, gentleness, and the necessity of immaterial love.
Her artistic journey began in early childhood, surrounded by creativity within her family home, where her parents’ passion for art was evident in various forms, from painting to sculpture and architecture. This environment nurtured her expressive talents, as she engaged in numerous creative projects that laid the foundation for her artistic voice.
Kgope’s work presents a delicate yet powerful commentary on South Africa’s socio-political landscape and the cultural dichotomies within urbanisation. Influenced by the emotive ink work of her mentor, printmaker Vuyile Voyiya, at the Michaelis School of Fine Arts, and inspired by contemporary artists like Buqaqawali Nobakada, Kgope adopts a multidisciplinary approach spanning painting, lithography, and photojournalism.
Her art highlights the often-overlooked beauty and resilience of black women and the underprivileged, aiming to rekindle intellectual and emotional engagement in an increasingly detached world. Through her work, Kgope positions herself as a voice for the profound humanity and resilience obscured by patriarchal and dystopian societal structures.
