"Over the past few years I have collected spent and discarded paint from acclaimed international artists such as Marlene Dumas to local house painters."

"My art is underpinned by ongoing research into the impact of artists and their art making upon environment."

""As collaborators, we are interested in the dialogue that occurs between two artists and how this connection manifests – both as a competitive and a supportive force. We find that our work illustrates both of these qualities, and shows the bond that can come from knowing another’s work as well as your own. We approach our individual work in distinctive ways - one subjective and intimate, another cerebral and pragmatic. Together, these traits play off each other, forming a new space in which to create.”"

"“A place of collective residential isolation, where the living environment becomes a site for production. The work that has come from this time deals with the act of conversation in an intimate environment and the physical realization of our online relationship on our website.""

"“Exhibitions like this break down barriers and create linkages between us in the unique mix that is South Africa”."

"“Art plays a significant role in the transformation of our country,”"

"“It is through exhibitions like this that we become a country that is grappling with its soul, rather than a country of one dimensional theme parks”"

"“Maybe the greatest yearning of South Africans is to find a canvas on which to express themselves,”"

"The essence of being South African, with all its issues, angst, triumphs and glorious celebrations has been distilled into a unique exhibition which opened at Spier in Stellenbosch"

"In her tapestries she gets in touch with her memories of the numerous Zulu folktales that spoke, through granny’s voice, of times immemorial. She uses no premeditated composition or logical storyline. Scenes get mixed up or flow into one overall vision that triggers the spirit of fantasy."

"These animals are markers of economic wellbeing and serve as spiritual links with the ancestors."

"When I work I see the picture and my hand will go over the wool and I know where I will have the image. Sometimes I change it again and take out all the wool, start over till I am happy with it. It is a slow process, for painters it must be easier."

"I followed my intuition and started to learn all kinds of art techniques to assist the patients by art therapy. Weaving I liked best. I felt very little satisfaction when following fixed patterns or working out of the themes that teachers provided me with. I could feel that was not my thing."

"We do not need sympathy, being deaf does not affect our intelligence and capability. We just need a little bit of help in terms of accessibility and inclusivity such as subtitles on TV shows, advertisements and sign interpreters at live shows."

"I am here to prove that, despite being differently-abled, it has not affected me. My journey is a testament to the power of dreams and determination we all possess."

"I aspire to eventually help provide cochlear implants to those who cannot afford it and give them the same gift my community has given me."

"I believe I deserve to win the title as I embody resilience, strength and the ubuntu spirit within South Africa. As a deaf woman with a cochlear implant, I represent a community that often goes unheard."

"“It’s somewhat problematic when looking at South African art and Western art—with mostly Western art taking and African art giving. The way that African art was appropriated is more of a taker’s attitude. I want to see the art history written that pays as much tribute to the originality of this South African heritage that we also see in Mahlangu’s art as to Keith Haring.”"

"“She was trying to blend tradition with modernity, so while there is a family trajectory there, it was also her and her generation who took this one step further, making this now-recognized Ndebele contribution to contemporary art,”"

"“I am very proud of her,” says her son, William. “She is our queen, queen of Ndebele, and our happy mascot.”"

"One of the most famous artists in South Africa, Mahlangu is a living tourist attraction, although visitors are few and far between in this far-flung village, two hours’ drive from the nearest city. And she is indisputably the most honoured gogo – Zulu for grandmother – of the Ndebele who remain in the Mpumalanga homelands."

"“She has spanned the horizon of both painting locally and painting globally.”"

"“Esther is the person who has taken the local art of design and painting in the Ndebela region and [brought] it to a global context,”"

""The art is practiced almost entirely by women, likely passed down when girls became adolescents. Esther couldn’t wait. (She was born an artist),”"

"“Since being a young child, Esther had a will to paint,”"

"Esther Mahlangu has worked tirelessly exposing and developing her talent travelling around the world, and she is very passionate about sharing her knowledge with the younger generation so that she leaves a legacy that lives on for generations to come."

"Mahlangu follows a local tradition through which this particular type of painting technique is handed down in the family, communicated, learned and transmitted only by women (in the past)"

"Her works are in major private collections including that of The Contemporary African Art Collection (CAAC) of Jean Pigozzi and in many Western museums. Despite being an internationally recognized artist, Esther Mahlangu still presently lives in her village in close and constant contact with her culture."

""As an artist, her ...composition is more compact, more engaging and complex than that of her contemporaries, the borders more complicated. She has a tendency to frame her pattern motifs.”"

"“Being recognized at home is such a blessing. It shows that my people still see the great work that I do,”"

"“As children grow up today, they’re losing their culture. I don’t want my culture to die. That’s why I teach children Ndebele art. They must know their culture and where they come from.”"

"“I love to paint and have been doing it my whole life. I will paint anything, as long as there’s a benefit where my culture can be preserved, where somebody growing up can value and never forget their Ndebele roots.”"

"“What many find interesting about my artworks is that although they are based on traditional Ndebele designs, they are still very modern and current. They can fit into a home or office anywhere in the world and don’t appear dated.”"

"Mun-Delsalle, Y.-Jean. "Esther Mahlangu, One Of South Africa's Most Famous Artists, Perpetuates Traditional Ndebele Painting". Forbes. Retrieved 24 March 2025."

"“Every single afternoon when they went to have a nap, I’d try to paint. I got into trouble every day until eventually they realized that in my heart I wanted to paint.”"

"“When you get married, you paint your first house. It’s very important to have straight lines and not zigzag lines because your family members will come and look. If your lines are perfectly straight, then you are a very good wife and can look after your family.”"

"“To paint is in my heart and in my blood,”"

"“When looking at a Ndebele mural, people get a smile of amazement on their faces. And if they watch me paint, they can’t believe that I don’t use a ruler to paint the lines, and that my hand is so steady, even at my age. If people see the bright colors, they are happy. And it makes me happy as well, as I love to paint; it is in my heart and in my blood.”"

"“In the old days, the decoration on the houses was always done with natural pigment and cow dung as that was the only material available,”"

"Cashdan, Marina (23 September 2016). "Esther Mahlangu Is Keeping Africa's Ndebele Painting Alive". Artsy. Retrieved 24 March 2025."

"“The original patterns that were painted on the houses in the past were part of a ritual of Ndebele people to announce events like a birth, death, wedding, or when a boy goes off to the initiation school. I started painting on canvas and board as I realized not everybody will be able to see the Ndebele painting in Mpumalanga where I live, and I felt I need to take it to them to see. This is how my work started to be exhibited in museums and galleries around the world.”"

"“I always watched my mother and grandmother when they were decorating the house,”"

"“My art has evolved from the tribal tradition of decorating our homes. The patterns I have used on the BMW Art Car marry tradition to the essence of BMW.”"

"“Ndebele art is naturally grandiose in form and only needed the concept of motion added.”"

""I love to travel, but I love most to come home again. It makes me happy if people like Ndebele art.”"

"“Our young people don’t wear the clothes or respect their forefathers, the girls have hair extensions and wear western clothes. This does not make me feel comfortable. They are vandalising our traditions. This is why I talk to them, try to motivate them with my travels and teach them too about Aids.”"

"This culture must not die. Our young people are vandalising our traditions. This is why I try to motivate them"

"“I want them to take away a sense of excitement, a sense of how vibrant the arts are in Africa,”"

"Cushing, Nathan (17 September 2014). "South African artist painting commissioned murals at VMFA". RVA News. Retrieved 24 March 2025."

"“Geometry and pattern is a theme that just permeates African art,”"