Leonard Tshehla Mohapi MATSOSO (b. 1949)
Mokgibo III
1982
mixed media on paper
48 x 35.5 cm
Dancers
1982
mixed media on paper
48 x 34 cm
Portrait of Ezrom Legae
1968
pen on paper
13 x 20 cm
Kalahari
1988
mixed media on paper
size unknown
BIOGRAPHY
Leonard Tshehla Mohapi Matsoso was born in Pimville, Soweto. From 1962 to 1970, while still at school, he studied at the Jubilee Art Centre under Cecil Skotnes, Sydney Kumalo, Bill Hart and Ezrom Legae. In 1972, he studied at the Bill Ainslie Studios and travelled to France, England and Italy.
Matsoso then worked for the SABC as a graphic artist.
His colourful figurative works are semi-abstract in style and are imbued with archetypal, spiritual energy.
From 1970 to 1988, he exhibited repeatedly in South Africa, also in São Paulo, Brazil; Athens, Greece; Canberra, Australia and in Bonn and Nuremberg, West Germany. In 1972, he received a first-prize trip to Paris in the UTA Pavement Artist Competition, and, in 1973, a prize at the São Paulo Biennale. He was also commissioned for work for the State Theatre, Pretoria.