SIMON MOROKE LEKGETHO (1929 – 1985)
Bushveld landscape
circa 1965
oil on board
42.5 x 63.5 cm
Still Life With Calabashes
1966
oil on board
54 x 44 cm
BIOGRAPHY
Simon Moroke Lekgetho was a South African painter born in Schoemansville, near the Hartebeespoort Dam. Although primarily self-taught, he enhanced his skills by studying art books and taking drawing lessons from an occupational school in Middleburg, Mpumalanga. Lekgetho also received guidance from established artists of his time, including Walter Battiss.
Lekgetho’s career was marked by his dedication to both creating and teaching art. He worked as a clerk for the Provincial Administration in Pretoria, but his passion for art led him to teach at his own studio located at 1216 Fortuin Street in Lady Selborne. His artwork encompassed a variety of subjects, including still lifes, landscapes, portraits and compositions that were reminiscent of traditional rock paintings. A significant theme in his work was healing, reflecting his interest in cultural and spiritual elements.
Lekgetho’s life and career came to an end in 1985 when he passed away in Ga-Rankuwa, north-west of Pretoria. Despite the challenges he faced as a black artist in apartheid-era South Africa, his contributions to South African art remain valued, with his works continuing to appear at auctions and exhibitions today.