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Muafangejo, John

Born: 1943 Etunda lo Nghadi, Angola
Died: 1987 Katutura, Windhoek, SWA/Namibia

An artist best known for his linocuts of genre, figures, religious and historical scenes, African traditions, domestic and wild animals.  His works make a personal, social or political comment and many of them contain an explanatory script. 

An etcher, weaver and sculptor.

Studies: 1967-69 Rorke’s Drift Art Centre, Natal under Otto Lundbohm.

Profile: A member of Arts Association SWA/Namibia.  1970-74 taught art at Odibo, Owambo; 1974 Artist in Residence, Rorke’s Drift Art Centre.  From 1971 illustrated books and pamphlets.  1957 moved to Epinga, SWA/Namibia; 1964 lived at Odibo, Owambo; 1977 Windhoek; 1986 Katutura.  Visited London and Finland.

Exhibitions: Participated in several group exhibitions from 1968 in SA, SWA/Namibia,

West Germany, the UK, Canada, Brazil and

in Scandinavia; 1971 Kunstkabinette, Windhoek, first of several solo exhibitions; 1979 Contemporary African Art in SA, touring; 1981 Republic Festival Exhibition; 1987 Johannesburg Art Gallery, Vita

Art Now; 1988 Standard Bank National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, Second Guest Artist.

Awards: 1981 Republic Festival Graphics Award; 1983 Medal Winner, Seventh International Graphic Exhibition, Frechen, West Germany; 1985 Most Outstanding Artists Award, STANSWA Biennial, Windhoek; 1987 Vita Art Now, Quarterly Award Winner, jointly with Edoardo Villa; 1988 Second Guest Artist Award, Standard Bank National Arts Festival. 

Represented: Ann Bryant Gallery, East London; Arts Association SWA/Namibia Collection; Durban Art Gallery; Johannesburg Art Gallery; King George VI Art Gallery, Port Elizabeth; Pretoria

Art Museum; SA National Gallery, Cape Town; University of Bophuthatswana; University of Fort Hare; University of South Africa; University of the Witwatersrand; William Humphreys Art Gallery, Kimberley.

References: Bruce Arnott, John Muafangejo, 1977, C Struik, Cape Town; BSAK1; Art SWA; 3Cs; AASA; Echoes of African Art; Olga Levinson, John N Muafangejo, 1988, Standard Bank National Arts Festival Exhibition Catalogue

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