South African Artist Nelson Mokamo’s Work Covers TIME Magazine

TIME Magazine has unveiled the cover for their annual “Art of Optimism” Issue and the astounding portrait gracing it was designed by South African artist, Nelson Makamo.

Nelson Makamo, 35, is a Madimolle, Limpopo-born artist based in Johannesburg South Africa. He honed his craft by studying Printmaking at Artist Proof Studios in Johannesburg for three years.
The incredible artist has had his works displayed at group and solo exhibitions in the USA, Netherlands, France, Italy, UK, Germany, Amsterdam, Scotland and South Africa.

This is TIME’s sophomore issue devoted to Optimism hence it’s focus on 34 people changing how we perceive our world.

TIMES shared the piece on their IG page, saying:

“Art is worthy of our interrogation and is in fact an antidote for our times,” writes @ava, guest-editor of @time’s second special issue devoted to #optimism.

 “In the issue, we celebrate and suggest ways that one can find inspiration in our present moment through the work of artists who carve a path for us all. Whether a filmmaker or a photographer, an author or an actress, a poet or a painter, these pages are filled with people who use art as a weapon for dynamic optimism.” 

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“Art is worthy of our interrogation and is in fact an antidote for our times,” writes @ava, guest-editor of @time’s second special issue devoted to #optimism. “In the issue, we celebrate and suggest ways that one can find inspiration in our present moment through the work of artists who carve a path for us all. Whether a filmmaker or a photographer, an author or an actress, a poet or a painter, these pages are filled with people who use art as a weapon for dynamic optimism.” See the full Optimists issue, on 34 people changing how we see our world, at the link in bio. Photograph by @djenebaaduayom for TIME; Painting by @nelsonmakamo for TIME; Video by @arpane; animation by @brobeldesign

A post shared by TIME (@time) on Feb 7, 2019 at 4:51am PST

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Makamo has however, never produced a magazine cover before but his enthusiasm to birth an image that would travel his work to the world begot his determination to give this project his best shot, thereby working tirelessly on it for 3-4 months.

“It was the first one where I really had to force myself to say: OK this is finished now. I’m very critical,” he told TIMES.

The oil painting is one of a child wearing red circular goggles and it’s titled “Vision of a Limitless Future”.