Giggs Kgole
Giggs Kgole is a South African-born artist making massive waves and attracting collectors’ attention with his work. Read on to learn about how the artist started creating, and what informs his practice.
To see more of the Giggs’ work, please visit his website.
About:
Giggs’ full name is Giggs Kgonamotse Kgole. His father named him after his favourite football player, Ryan Giggs, with the hope that he would one day become a professional footballer too. However, Giggs turned to a life of art and creativity instead. Giggs began making art at age three in Kutupu, a small village in South Africa. He was surrounded by simple farms and goat herding. At the river where his household collected water, the young artist discovered mud. Giggs formed the river mud into the creatures from his dreams and imagination. At some point, his grandmother began placing his mud figurines under the stove to harden overnight, so that they would survive for longer.
Giggs Kgole, Fuck that Tiger, Acrylic on MDF, 30.5cm x 24cm, 2021.
By age 19, Giggs had begun his professional career as an artist. He was soon selected as the youngest finalist for the Sasol New Signature Competition and attracted the mentorship of William Kentridge.
Giggs Kgole, Cradle, Plaster on wood, 32,5cm x 41cm, 2021.
Giggs creates in a variety of mediums, but has a particular inclination towards ceramics – perhaps since that was his very first introduction to art as a child. He fine-tuned his ceramics skills during a residency in Vallauris, the very same place Picasso himself learned about the medium.
The artist describes himself as a nomad, and says the consistent movement has been the biggest influence on his artistic practice so far. Living the last decade of his life on the road has promoted him to create art in shifting environments, always with new tools and items. He is currently studying internationally in Rome, working towards degrees in Art History, Communication, and Studio Art and Design.
Selected exhibitions:
Solo Exhibitions:
2021 Ditoro, Denzil’s & Jo, Johannesburg, (South Africa)
2019 Divine, Mekanova Gallery, Cannes, (France).
2019 Divine Part 2, South African High Commission to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Trafalgar Square, (United Kingdom).
2019 Divine Part 3, Mekanova Gallery, Cannes, (France).
2018 The Tub, Artivist, (South Africa). Tembisa, GasLamp, (South Africa).
2018 I was Caught In Fire, Vineyarts, (Italy).
2017 Before the High Walls, John Cabot University, (Italy).
2017 COMING of AGE, Everard Read, (South Africa).
2016 Introduction Series edition I, Julie Miller Investment Institute, (South Africa).
2016 Everything Is Relative, Julie Miller Investment Institute, (South Africa).
Group Exhibitions:
2021 A History Untold, Signature African Art, (United Kingdom).
2020 Say My Name, Signature African Art, (United Kingdom).
2019 Young Masters Art Prize 10th Anniversary Exhibition, Cynthia Corbett Gallery, (United Kingdom).
2019, Welcome to the Heartworld, HeART Monaco, (France). 2018 The Kids these Days, TMRW GALLERY, (South Africa).
2019 Exposition Art Contemporain Sud Africain - Impossible until done, Mekanova, (France).
2017 Reflections on being Africa, Undiscovered Canvas, (France).
2017 Spectrum, Everard Read, (South Africa).
2016 Sasol New Signature finalist, Pretoria Art Museum, (South Africa).
2016 Youth Arts Massif//YAM, (South Africa).
2015 UJ & JJC Art and Design Awards Exhibition, (South Africa).
Selected Press & Publications:
Rachel Wood. (May 2021). England rugby star Maro Itoje is showcasing 'untold' Black history through an art exhibition. CNN Style.
Sports Industry Group. (April 2021). MARO ITOJE PRESENTS NEW BLACK HISTORY ART EXHIBITION. Sports Industry Group.
Thabitha Mahlangu. (February 2021). Giggs wants to help Limpopo artists shape their futures. Review Online.
Elisa Aceri. (February 2021). Alumna Alexandria Maloney and Student Giggs Kgole to Be Part of U.N. “Say My Name” Exhibition. John Cabot University.
Artsy. (February 2021). Say My Name. Artsy Net.
Mark Westall. (October 2020). SIGNATURE AFRICAN ART ANNOUNCES SAY MY NAME, TWO EXHIBITIONS OF NEW WORK PRESENTED BY ACCLAIMED FILMMAKER AVA DUVERNAY IN LONDON AND LOS ANGELES . FAD Magazine.
Elisa Aceri. (October 2020). Student Artist Giggs Kgole to be Featured in London’s Signature African Art Gallery. John Cabot University.
Zoe Paskett. (September 2020). Say My Name: George Floyd and Breonna Taylor among names honoured in new London exhibition. Evening Standard.
Valentina Di Liscia. (September 2020). Ava DuVernay Partners With Gallery for Exhibition Benefitting Law Enforcement Accountability Organization. HYPERALLERGIC.
