Solomon Mahlathini: Culture Ambassador Who Painted His Way to World Fame

Solomon Mahlathini: Culture Ambassador Who Painted His Way to World Fame

By Kamangeni Phiri  7/1/2023

He may not be that famous back in his home country, Zimbabwe, but United States based visual artist Solomon Mahlatini’s star keeps shining as he paints his way to world fame.

The multidisciplinary visual artist, who draws his inspiration from the Shona culture, had a successful solo exhibition of his collection of paintings on 16 December hosted by the Africa World Art Gallery in Washington DC.

Mahlathini’s solo exhibition titled Retrospection had 12 pieces from his recent body of work. It explored childhood influences in adulthood, enabling that inner child in every person to have a voice again.

“It is an invitation to look back at our childhood, a moment of vulnerability, filled with hopes and dreams, and letting that fuel or inspire our adulthood. We should never cease to pursue our dreams,” he said on his Facebook page..

Mahlathini was exhibiting in Washington DC for the first time in seven years and the 16 December exhibition became a welcome reception for him.

Among the high profile people who attended the solo exhibition was Zimbabwe’s ambassador to the United States of America, Tedious Chifamba.

The young Zimbabwean artist first resided in Washington DC from 2012 to 2015.

He becomes the first Zimbabwean artist and the second African to be represented by the Africa World Art Gallery.

Mahlathini’s art is inspired by the Shona culture as well as his everyday experiences in the diaspora, giving it a universal appeal.

“The industry here has been very receptive of my work. They love my unique ethnic flair and also the universal appeal it has which they can relate to. And being an artist; I’m not only an ambassador for my country, continent but also the world. As long as I’m being true to my craft and depicting everyday life I can be accepted anywhere regardless of my nationality,” Manhlathini said in an archived interview with Sunday News.

He left Zimbabwe for the USA in 2011 to pursue college education after turning down full scholarship at an art institute in Switzerland. He enrolled at Columbia College where he successfully completed his first degree, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film and Television degree, majoring in post-production editing.

After graduation, Solomon continued to build his profile as a visual artist of note through using his paintings to promote Zimbabwean and African culture. His works were featured in many exhibitions held in different states’ galleries.

Mahlathini’s art speaks on living in the diaspora and the need to assimilate the new culture, while still upholding traditional values.

He contends that the narrative of the African immigrant is often ignored among the many voices in the arts community and society at large, and that people who identify as LGBT are frequently not heard. Solomon wants to use his art to open a dialogue within the “Art World” and society at large in hearing the voices of the African diaspora; their trials, tribulations and concerns.

“I feel art is an important way of conveying messages and even those abused can express themselves through art,” said Mahlatini.

The visual artist went for his second Bachelors of Arts degree in fine arts at Oklahoma’s East Central University (ECU). He graduated with honors in May 2019.

Solomon, a self-taught painter, broadened his talents to other areas of art that include printmaking, sculpture using metal glass and wood, graphic designing and filming, after his training.

Mahlathini received many awards while studying at ECU which include the Ada Arts Council Scholarship and the OVAC Momentum Oklahoma, Curator’s Choice Awards, all for his body of work. While still studying at the ECU, his work was featured in several exhibitions at many galleries in the US. Solomon was also featured in a book, Artster Oklahoma, which debuted at The Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

Mahlathini credits his mother, Salome Mahlathini, for the great artist he is today. He says his mother, an accountant by profession, used to draw and paint in her leisure time.

“My mother is my inspiration and role model. She is an accomplished artist in her own right but never went to college to study art. Even her brothers could paint as well. I decided to go a notch higher by studying art at college,” said Mahlathini.

Solomon Mahlathini was born on June 1, 1989 in Harare in a family of four.  He is the first born child of Benjamin and Salome, a business couple from Kwekwe.

The 33-year-old visual artist and his siblings grew up in the City of Kwekwe where they attended private schools from kindergarten to high school.

Solomon’s special talent became evident when he was still a primary school kid at Goldridge College: he sold his first “commercial” paintings at age 12.

In high school he was chosen to design the annual posters and flyers for school events. Mahlathini scooped the “Outstanding Art Student of the Year” trophy for three consecutive years (2005 to 2007). He also received the coveted recognition as Overall Best Arts Student just before his graduation from high school.

“I have always had a passion for art and won many awards at school. I was also a top student in most if not all of my classes. Both my parents; Benjamin and Salome Mahlathini are very supportive of my dreams. They have always taught me the importance of having good communication with God and following one’s passion regardless of what the world says,” said Mahlathini.

The visual artist grew up at his father’s commercial farm in Kwekwe, which at one point was a game reserve. He used to love watching different animals, the wonderful flowers, the lake, the rich red soils, the burnt orange and peach sunsets. Mahlathini’s family also used to visit a lot their communal homeland, Chiundura, in Midlands.

“I loved the sandy, beach-like soils, the clear night skies and the stars and the indigenous vegetation. I also experienced Xhosa and Sotho cultures as my mother is a combination of both and my father’s family is from a diverse cultural background.

I used to like seeing people dress up in colourful regalia, the head dresses, the music, the ambiance, it was beautiful. Same goes for my mom who grew up in the apostolic faith. I loved the white dressing and the singing the wooden stuff all that to me was art and from time to time I borrow from that and that is how art was introduced and defined to me,” Mahlathini explained the genesis of his love for art.

He says his art captures life’s joys, pain, struggles, universal belief in a supreme devine being, love, war, history and more.

“I believe art is all about feeling. Art is supposed to stimulate as many of your senses as it can, sight, touch, smell etc. so I try to make my pieces to be mixed media and full of textures. I put sand, burlap, cork, plastic, scented oil, oil paint, acrylic, graphite, anything that I feel will help evoke whatever feeling I’m aiming for”.

Mahlathini is still single. He is very active on various social media platforms which he uses to good advantage in marketing his works.

Solomon plans on opening a gallery-cum-art store which will showcase mainly his artwork, and a few selected featured artists from Zimbabwe and other parts of the world.

“My aim is to have a residency where I will be inviting youths from Zimbabwe to come and learn and also show them that it’s possible for one to eke a living through arts. It is also important to go to school as artists,” he said.

For now, the talented artist has to contend with moving from state to state, exhibiting his paintings at galleries and museums across the USA.