Siphiwe-Nokukhanya Mnguni
Siphiwe-Nokukhanya Mnguni’s practice navigates the notion of identity whilst exploring the iconography of the black female nude in relation to her own body. Challenging traditional representations of the figure in western art history, Siphiwe's work is also informed by subconscious thought and her own experiences as a young British Zimbabwean woman living in south east London.
Drawing from life is intrinsic to Siphiwe's work; her images seem to hover between abstraction and figuration. ‘I take photos of myself in weird positions, draw my reflection in the mirror, or ask friends to sit for me on FaceTime. Then, the work transforms itself in the moment – it’s not pre-planned’. Siphiwe often combines oil pastel with collage which, she says, 'has a tactile and playful quality that takes me back to my childhood'. The resulting pictures evoke dancing creatures that seem to shimmy on the page, their limbs suggesting exploratory arial maps of the body.
Siphiwe gained a BA (Hons) in Fashion, Textiles and Interiors at the University for the Creative Arts, Farnham (2012 – 2015) with a focus upon print design. Alongside her artistic practice she currently works full time for the arts and mental health charity Hospital Rooms as senior public programmes curator leading workshops and managing large-scale artist commissions in hospitals.
Siphiwe has shown her work widely in London including at Tart Gallery in a group exhibition (December 2021). In 2023, she was selected for the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition and was subsequently interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme with Eileen Cooper RA. Oliver Projects was proud to launch Siphiwe’s first limited edition screenprint at the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair in the same year. We have also shown her unique works in several group exhibitions including 'Almost Blue’ at the Royal Watercolour Society Gallery (June 2024). Siphiwe’s work was selected for ‘Voices of Black Artistry’ at Christies, London (September 2024). In November 2025, she was selected for the Sarabande artist residency programme which, set up by the late Alexander McQueen, provides studios and support for up-and-coming artists. Siphiwe lives in south east London.
Siphiwe’s first solo exhibition was held at Oliver Projects Gallery from 20 February - 21 March 2026.
Shop work by Siphiwe
Pastel, oil stick and silver leaf on watercolour paper, 25 × 17.5cm
Siphiwe Mnguni's practice navigates the notion of identity whilst exploring the iconography of the black female nude in relation to her own body. Challenging traditional representations of the figure in western art history, Siphiwe's work is also informed by subconscious thought and her own experiences as a young British-Zimbabwean woman living in south east London.
This bold, unframed mixed media drawing on paper is number one in a group of works inspired by a recent trip to Bali and Lombok.
Pastel, oil stick and silver leaf on watercolour paper, 56.5 x 76cm
Siphiwe Mnguni's practice navigates the notion of identity whilst exploring the iconography of the black female nude in relation to her own body. Challenging traditional representations of the figure in western art history, Siphiwe's work is also informed by subconscious thought and her own experiences as a young British-Zimbabwean woman living in south east London.
This framed mixed media work on paper is one of three larger-scale framed works inspired by a recent trip to Bali and Lombok.
Pastel, oil stick and silver leaf on watercolour paper, 38.5cm x 29.5cm
Siphiwe Mnguni's practice navigates the notion of identity whilst exploring the iconography of the black female nude in relation to her own body. Challenging traditional representations of the figure in western art history, Siphiwe's work is also informed by subconscious thought and her own experiences as a young British-Zimbabwean woman living in south east London.
This framed mixed media drawing and monoprint on paper is one of a new group of new works inspired by a recent trip to Bali and Lombok.
Purchased works are usually despatched within three working days.
Video
A visit to Siphiwe Mnguni’s studio at Sarabande Foundation, East London, in advance of her first solo exhibition at Oliver Projects Gallery. Video by Gweles Film, February 2026.