Banana Club Artist Fund names Botswana’s Katlego C.L. Twala as its Autumn/Winter artist in residence. Her work has been described as visually arresting, balancing anatomical precision with social commentary
GAZETTE REPORTER
A contemporary painter born and based in Gaborone, has been selected by the Banana Club Artist Fund (BCAF) as its Autumn/Winter 2025 Artist in Residence.
Known for her richly textured oil paintings on linen and cotton, Katlego C.L. Twala brings a fusion of technical mastery and emotional nuance, often channelling the spirit of classical portraiture while rewriting its language through an African feminist lens.
An artistic language
A graduate of the Swedish Academy of Realist Art and the Barcelona Academy of Art, Twala’s work is visually arresting, balancing anatomical precision with social commentary.
Her portraits, while serene at first glance, are layered with symbolism and cultural introspection. By merging old master techniques with modern socio-political themes, Twala offers a visual vocabulary that feels both timeless and urgent.
Jo’burg solo debut
As part of her three-month residency, Twala will produce a new body of work that will culminate in her debut solo presentation at the RMB Latitudes Art Fair in May 2025 under the fair’s Botswana Focus.
This platform will mark a significant milestone for the 24-year-old, bringing her practice to a wider Southern African audience at one of the continent’s premier art events.
Central to Twala’s work is the exploration of masculinity, identity, and emotional inheritance themes that she unpacks through feminist theory, psychology and philosophy.
Masculinity through a feminist lens
Drawing from thinkers like Bell Hooks, Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, her inquiry begins with the mother-son relationship, a motif that echoes throughout her paintings like a heartbeat.
“Being raised in a very matriarchal home heavily influenced my curiosity about understanding the dynamics I was raised in,” she told Time Out. “My work asks: How does the boy-child navigate life in the absence of a father figure?
“What does becoming a man look like to him? My audience can expect to engage in a dialogue with the work, prompting them to reflect on and critique their own personal relationships.”
Detail-driven
For Banana Club, an experimental arts collective based in Botswana, Twala’s selection is no coincidence but a statement. The organisation’s participation in RMB Latitudes reflects its larger mission: to elevate Botswana’s cultural narratives and showcase them on a global stage.
“We’re especially proud to embark on this journey with Katlego, an artist whose thoughtful, detail-driven practice reflects the calibre of excellence we strive to nurture through the Banana Club Artist Fund,” said Tanlume Enyatseng, the collective’s Creative Director.
“Her work challenges prevailing ideas of African portraiture, visibility and legacy in contemporary art.”