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Bongi Bengu (born 1970) is an artist from South Africa.

Bongi Bengu is a South African mixed media artist. Bengu was born in South Africa in 1970 and was forced to flee the country in 1978 with her family in political exile. She attended the International School of Geneva, Switzerland until grade 11. She then attended school in Swaziland for one year before moving to the United States, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Art. In 1994, Bengu returned to South Africa to complete a Masters of Fine Arts degree at the University of Cape Town. ^{[1] [2]}

Bengu has said that she decided to become an artist as a child after her father asked her to illustrate his work presentations and her sister asked her to design diagrams for her science class. Bengu had her first solo exhibition at the AVA gallery in Cape Town, South Africa, where she presented the works she had completed as part of her schooling at the University of Cape Town. The exhibit focused on the experience of African women, a theme that she has continued to explore throughout her career. ^{[2] [3]}

Bengu has lived in several countries and cites this experience as an inspiration for her work. Her favorite artists are Louis Maqhubela and Kara Walker. ^[3]

As a mixed media artist, Bengu has worked with charcoal, pastel, acrylics, oils, soil, lithographs, and materials gathered from nature. ^[3] She has compared the layering textures of her art to her experiences and emotions, as well as the dichotomy of power and powerlessness. ^[2]

‘’Nomonde (woman with patience)’’ is a piece that was created by Bengu in 2014 using mixed media on board. The piece is circular, depicting a smiling woman surrounded by a series of disembodied faces, and features a palette of red, orange, and yellow colors. ^[1]

Nomonde (woman with patience) has been dreaming to experience a feeling of euphoria, that interconnectedness with the whole universe that creates a sense of oneness. What compliments her dream are the faces that surround her, different personalities in high excitement.

— Bongi Bengu ^[1]

‘’Woman’’ was created by Bengu in 2003 using mixed media. ^[1] }} The piece features the profile of Sarah Baartman, an African woman who lived in the late 18th-century and early 19th-century and is known for having been exhibited as part of a freak show in Europe during her lifetime, due to her large buttocks. The blue silhouette of Baartman is set against an orange backdrop as three white faces stare at her. The work is meant to exemplify the sexualization and exploitation faced by African women. ^[4]

Bengu’s work has received positive criticism, most notably appearing in ArtThrob, a South African modern art publication. She has also won a number of awards, most of which she received in the 1990s. ^[4] She has remarked that negative criticism can be beneficial to the work of an artist.

Everything can work in one’s favour. Bad criticism can give one great publicity and also help one grow enormously as an artist.

— Bongi Bengu, Get It Magazine (September 30, 2019) ^[3]

1997: Standard Bank Award: Trainee Curator at the National Gallery, Cape Town

1996 – 1997: University of Cape Town Maclver Scholarship

1996 – 1997: University of Cape Town CSD Scholarship

1995 – 1997: University of Cape Town A W Mellon

1992: National Museum of African Art Certificate of Recognition Washington DC

1993: Mount Vernon College - Alpha Chi National Honour Society Award

1993: Mount Vernon College - Arts and Humanities Award

1993: Mount Vernon College - Fine Arts Award

1993-1994: Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges

1992-1993: Mount Vernon College - Merit Award

1987: International School of Geneva-French ^[1]

Category:Living people Category:1970 births Category:Feminist artists Category:South African Artists Category:University of Cape Town alumni