Teach Your Children

Edward Selematsela

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Edward Selematsela, born in 1966 in the rural village of Ga-Modjadji, Limpopo, South Africa, is a well-known and celebrated visual artist recognised for his evocative landscape paintings and deep commitment to youth development through art. His work draws inspiration from his childhood memories and reflects the pride, humanity, and simplicity of rural Limpopo life. His art is widely respected for its emotional depth and technical excellence, attracting both local and international collectors. From a young age, Edward displayed a strong passion for art. He studied Art and Business at Eastside College, now known as Johannesburg College, and later pursued Fine Arts studies at the University of South Africa (UNISA). In the 1990s, he met the late Dulcie Robinson, an esteemed Johannesburg artist who became his mentor and collaborator. Together, they co-founded the Little Artists School in 1995 in Marshalltown, downtown Johannesburg, initially operating from an orphanage home. The initiative was created to teach art to youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, including shelters and orphanages. To date, more than 2,800 students have benefited from this transformative project. The program has been supported by Deutsche Bank since 2004. Edward continues to volunteer three days a week, teaching children and youth in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, ensuring the sustainability of the Little Artists School legacy. In 2006, he accompanied six of his students to London after they won the Deutsche Bank Art Award during the Urban Age Exhibition at the Johannesburg Art Gallery. In 2011, Edward served as a school curator and facilitator at the Standard Bank Art Gallery for the exhibition titled Water – The Delicate Thread of Life, where he helped educate the public about the importance of water conservation through a collaborative exhibition by local artists. His career has been marked by significant recognition and awards. In 1997, he received the Merit of Excellence Award from the French Cultural Centre in Pessac, Bordeaux, France. His intaglio relief artwork titled The Journey to Travel earned him first prize at the Black Like Us Art Competition in 2011, sponsored by Black Like Me and Deutsche Bank South Africa. In 2006, he was named Citadel Most Improved Artist by Manor Gallery and Webber Wentzel Bowens in recognition of his impact on youth development through art. He has also won several art competitions across Gauteng. Edward Selematsela has been an integral part of The Travelling Art Gallery since its inception in 2008, exhibiting extensively across Europe, including Germany, Spain, and Austria. From the very beginning, he has also been represented by The Artists Gallery in Cape Town, reflecting a longstanding and trusted relationship that has supported the continued growth and visibility of his work on both local and international platforms.