Dada Khinyasa facing directly into the camera against a deep blue background, wearing a denim shirt and a red cap

Dada Khanyisa

Daily life, made beautiful

“I enjoy focusing on what people neglect or take for granted – their daily tasks and what was part of their growing experience.”

Dada Khanyisa is fascinated by the bits of life that are often thought of as boring. They create vibrant 3D portraits that show figures in intimate settings – interacting or arguing, alone and together. Likewise, Khanyisa makes their art out of materials we use on a daily basis. Glass, plastic, fabric and wood are all regular features. The artist then layers them together using collage. They descr...

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Bio

Dada Khanyisa (they/them) was born in 1991 in Umzimkhulu, South Africa. They were raised in Johannesburg and currently work and live in Cape Town.

Career

Khanyisa is an animator – a skill seen in their intricate figures. In 2016, they studied Digital and Traditional Animation at the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa.

Commissions

In 2017, Khanyisa was given the challenge to make a mural at the museum Constitution Hill in Johannesburg. They were asked to bring a modern feel to the historic place – and the resulting 35 metre mural certainly fit the bill.

Collaborations with Dada Khanyisa