Description
Mixed media on canvas
130 x 77 cm
Desperate Escape
R18,000 (Excl. VAT)
R20,700 (Incl. VAT)
Artist:Tumelo Mphela
Mixed media on canvas
130 x 77 cm
Within South Africa we courier your artwork to your door - the shipping cost will show at the checkout. When shipping art internationally, two primary options are commonly considered: crated and rolled. Crating involves securely packaging the artwork in a custom-built crate, providing maximum protection against physical damage but often resulting in higher shipping costs due to size and weight. We will be in touch regarding the best options for you. Virtual hanging of art is an innovative service we offer that allows art enthusiasts and collectors to visualize how artworks will appear in their desired spaces before making a purchase. We digitally place the selected artworks on your walls, in the correct scale to achieve the desired aesthetic. This service not only helps in making informed decisions but also enhances the overall art-buying experience, providing a realistic preview of the final result and ensuring that the chosen artworks harmonize with the surrounding decor. Please contact us to make use of this service!
Shipping Info
On the other hand, rolling art involves taking stretched paintings off the frame, carefully wrapping the artwork and placing it in a protective tube. This method is more cost-effective and suitable for flexible pieces.
Choosing between crating and rolling depends on the specific artwork's size, fragility, and budget, as well as the destination's shipping requirements and regulations.
Virtual Hanging
Tumelo Mphela
Tumelo Mphela
Born in 1995 in the rural village of Mokopane, Limpopo, Tumelo Mphela was encouraged early on by his teachers at Madibane High School, who recognized his artistic talent. His formative years, including experiences in the villages of Mapela, inspired a lifelong exploration of community, land, and memory through art.
Based in Johannesburg, Tumelo Mphela studied Fine and Applied Arts at Tshwane University of Technology. Initially drawn to pencil and charcoal for their subtle textures, he has since expanded his practice to include sculpture, portraiture, and mixed media. His work creates sensory experiences that highlight socio-political issues such as domination, displacement, and oppression, with a particular focus on the environmental and social impact of mining in rural communities.
Portraiture plays a central role in his work, sculpting human faces that convey stories of loss, resilience, and hope. Rendered in shades of green and grey, the closed eyes in his portraits reflect displacement, while the colour palette evokes land stripped for mineral extraction. Matchsticks appear in many works as a metaphor for power, control, and transformation, often held by children to symbolize both vulnerability and latent strength.
Tumelo Mphela’s art is deeply personal, sometimes portraying his younger sister, and serves as both a tribute to human resilience and a quiet protest against the costs of so-called progress. His work encourages dialogue around ownership, environmental justice, and the enduring spirit of affected communities.
He has exhibited widely, including Whispers of Home (duo with Theophelus Rikhotso, Trent Gallery, Pretoria, 2025), A Flash of Remembrance (Terracontemporary Art Gallery, Pretoria East, 2024), and Echoes of Place (The Viewing Room Art Gallery, Pretoria, 2024).
He is represented by The Artist Gallery, Cape Town.
