Kimathi Mafafo is a South African artist born in Kimberly in 1984.
Her desire to celebrate the black female form, and to inspire women to embrace their own strength and beauty, reflects in her embroidered works, where Mafafo compare the woman in her narratives to flowers slowly blossoming against all odds, skillfully criticizing traditional gender roles while, at the same time, encouraging women to realize their own worth.
A staged nature – abundant greenery, the sensuous drapery that characterizes flourishing images – is central to her work, which consists of captivating compositions, made of a high level of detail.
Recently, the artist has organized a group of Capetonian women into an informal traditional embroidery society: their dream is to attract more women, to empower young females via embroidered art pieces derived from Mafafo’s inspiration and artwork.
Kimathi Mafafo not only practices embroidery, but she also makes oil painting and installations.