NALEDI MODUPI
Naledi Modupi is a multi-disciplinary visual artist based in Johannesburg, celebrated for her bold and emotive portraits that centre Black femininity, heritage, and cultural pride. Drawing deep inspiration from the women who raised her, Modupi’s work is a tribute to the resilience, grace, and strength of South African womanhood, past and present.
At the core of her practice is a commitment to storytelling through portraiture. Working across both traditional and digital media—including chalk, paint, and digital illustration. Modupi weaves together shape, pattern, and colour to create striking abstract figures. Her subjects, often depicted in unapologetic black forms and framed by vivid colour palettes, embody both personal memory and collective cultural identity.
Her portraits are far more than visual representations they are acts of homage. From her mother and grandmothers to women in her wider community, Modupi honours those who shaped her with works that vibrate with spirit and intention. These portraits are layered with symbolism and emotion: a celebration of presence, a confrontation with absence, and a reclaiming of space for Black women within the global art narrative.
Influenced by African design motifs, fashion, and the natural rhythm of township life, Modupi’s visual language is vibrant and rhythmic. Her figures, though abstract, exude warmth and presence. Using line work that moves like language and shapes that feel rooted in ceremony, she creates portraits that are both contemporary and timeless. Each piece tells a story of womanhood, of culture, of survival, and joy.
While rooted in the visual traditions of her South African heritage, Modupi’s work transcends borders. Her ability to work across mediums, from textured chalk drawings to polished digital illustrations, allows her to connect with a diverse and global audience. Yet her message remains grounded: to amplify and honour the lived experiences of Black women, to archive identity through portraiture, and to elevate the beauty and pride that define her own community.
Modupi is part of a new generation of African artists redefining representation through intentional, culturally grounded work. Her creative process is driven by memory, matriarchy, and a profound sense of purpose. She often speaks about art as a way to ensure future generations acknowledge the role of Black South African women not only in history, but in shaping the world today.
Her work continues to gain recognition for its sincerity, originality, and unapologetic celebration of identity. Whether showcased in gallery exhibitions, digital showcases, or community murals, Naledi Modupi’s art creates space for presence, honour, and reflection.
Every portrait is a gesture of love. Every line is a continuation of legacy. And every colour speaks to the vibrancy and complexity of Black womanhood.
Naledi Modupi’s work doesn’t just depict her subjects it uplifts them, reclaims them, and celebrates them in full, joyful colour.
Creative Debuts have commissioned and showcased Naledi in many projects. Including here at the Spotify HQ in London
