An interview with Themba Mkhangeli

October 2025

Themba Mkhangeli is an award-winning artist who has become known for his iconic use of blue ballpoint pen to draw realistic and intimately detailed portraits.

Mkhangeli’s artwork UKUCAMNGCA (Meditation), was awarded fourth place in the 2025 iteration of the Portrait Award competition here at Rust-en-Vrede. Previously he has been awarded the Ryno Swart Drawing Medal in the Portrait Award 2023, and has placed in the Top 40 in the Portrait Award 2017.

We wanted to find out more about his artistic inspiration and career growth over the past years.

Congratulations on securing fourth place in the Portrait Award 2025 with your piece *UKUCAMNGCA (Meditation)*. How did it feel when you found out you’d placed among the finalists, and what does this achievement mean to you as an artist?

Thank you so much. I was extremely happy to be among the finalists because it’s the huge achievement. It means a lot to achieve stage on a huge competition like Portrait Award in the country because it’s going to boost my career a lot as a self taught artist.

You’ve become renowned for your photorealistic portraits drawn entirely with blue ballpoint pen. Could you share how that medium became your preferred choice, and what makes it so special to your artistic expression?

I use ballpoint pen because I grew up without art materials due to poor family background and ballpoint it’s a simple affordable tool but hard to use. It allows me to express myself as a patient art because I love to feel every single stroke of a pen because patient and passion is who I am and I found textured paper works well with pen.

Can you take us back to when you were growing up—competing with your brother in Julukuqu village or discovering art in Grade 5 at Linge Primary School—and tell us how these early experiences shaped your path and passion?

Since back then, primary school day I never looked back because of the courage/motivation I got from my brother, learners and teachers. All the earlier experiences made who I am, the artists I am today because practice makes you perfect and patience is powerful tool to succeed.

Looking ahead, what are your dreams for your own future as an artist? And beyond that, what is your biggest wish or hope for the broader South African art industry?

His personal goal is to excel in all the aspects of art and to be recognized as a serious artist in the future. My ambition is to be represented in public, corporate and private galleries all over the world. I plan to do art for a living since he believe “Art Is Life”. Soon I want to do a solo exhibition, starting to see my work taking part in international exhibitions, auctions and art fairs.

My dream is to own an art studio or gallery to serve as a mentor to young people, particularly from the poorer black communities who really loves and have a passion for art. Acquiring artistic knowledge and skills will provide a good positive attitude, confidence and a much needed source of income. I grew up without any formal art training, but after completing Matric I decided to follow his passion in art. I truly believes one needs to do what you love.

Your Portrait Award piece uses meditation and bees to convey calm and hope. Do you consistently weave symbolism or themes into your portraits, and if so, how do you decide which elements to include?

Since I love nature and I have doing portrait my entire life, emotions, facial expressions or the environment are main key for me to decide which elements or theme I must apply to a specific piece of artwork after a lot of research. Thank you once again