""Serene smile"" Painting

Biography

Clement Mohale (b. 1994) is a South African contemporary artist from Bela-Bela, Limpopo. His journey with art began in childhood and was nurtured under the mentorship of the late Ernest Ditshego at The African Art Center, where he developed foundational skills and techniques. In 2007, he received the Manager’s Choice Award at the Cashbuild Art At HeArt Community Competition.

Mohale has since participated in numerous exhibitions and special projects, including his 2020 solo exhibition The Creative Adult is the One Who Survived at the NWU Gallery, North-West University, and the 2021 group exhibition Shattered Ceilings presented by The Pencil Club. He was a finalist for both The Lockdown Collection Portfolio (2020) with Artist Proof Studio and the University of Johannesburg, and The Green Recovery Portfolio (2020), a climate change initiative with the Canada Climate Law Initiative.

In 2021, Mohale completed a certificate in Contemporary Art Practice from the CAP Institute under the mentorship of Prof. Elfriede Dreyer, as well as a Printmaking certificate at Artist Proof Studio, Johannesburg. He collaborated with HRH Esther Mnguni on a special project at the Pretoria Art Museum.

Recent exhibitions include Dear Mama, a heartfelt tribute to maternal love and memory, and Heroes of My Hero (2025), a body of work celebrating individuals who embody courage and resilience in everyday life. His art has gained international recognition, with works housed in collections across the United States, Switzerland, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom, among others.

Through bold colors, striking use of light, and emotionally charged figures, Mohale continues to create powerful narratives that reflect on identity, resilience, and the social issues shaping contemporary African life.


Artist Statement

My work is a visual exploration of identity, resilience, and the transformative power of lived experience. Rooted in the daily realities of African communities, I seek to tell stories that are often left unheard, capturing both vulnerability and strength in my subjects.

I am drawn to children as recurring figures in my work because their gaze carries unspoken truths. Painting them in monochrome blue has become a signature of my practice. For me, blue represents struggle, resilience, and hope. It is the color of memory and reflection, a way of revisiting my own childhood while giving voice to broader human experiences.