WATCH: SA artist Nelson Makamo graces cover of TIME magazine

South African artist Nelson Makamo is gracing the latest cover of TIME magazine.

Revealing the cover on their “Art of Optimism” issue on Thursday, TIME magazine displayed a breathtaking portrait by the Limpopo-born artist, with the caption:

"Art is worthy of our interrogation and is in fact an antidote for our times," writes @ava, guest-editor of @time’s second special issue devoted to #optimism.

"In the issue, we celebrate and suggest ways that one can find inspiration in our present moment through the work of artists who carve a path for us all. 

"Whether a filmmaker or a photographer, an author or an actress, a poet or a painter, these pages are filled with people who use art as a weapon for dynamic optimism."

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"Art is worthy of our interrogation and is in fact an antidote for our times," writes @ava, guest-editor of @time’s second special issue devoted to #optimism. "In the issue, we celebrate and suggest ways that one can find inspiration in our present moment through the work of artists who carve a path for us all. Whether a filmmaker or a photographer, an author or an actress, a poet or a painter, these pages are filled with people who use art as a weapon for dynamic optimism." See the full Optimists issue, on 34 people changing how we see our world, at the link in bio. Photograph by @djenebaaduayom for TIME; Painting by @nelsonmakamo for TIME; Video by @arpane; animation by @brobeldesign

A post shared by TIME(@time) on Feb 7, 2019 at 4:51am PST

Makamo is a Johannesburg-based artist. The 35-year-old star was born in Modimolle, Limpopo province. 

Born with an astounding artistic aptitude he honed his craft at Artist Proof Studios in Johannesburg where he studied printmaking for 3 years.

Makamo has exhibited as a group and solo exhibitions in South Africa, France, Italy, America, Netherlands, The United Kingdom, Germany, Amsterdam and Scotland. 

Speaking to DJ Fresh on Metro FM's 'The Fresh Breakfast Show' on Friday, Makamo said he as an artist he "needed to restore the image of an African child".

“As an artist I felt like I needed to restore the image of an African child” - @nelsonmakamo #FamousFreshFridays #FreshBreakfast pic.twitter.com/o71PsDsKu2

— METROFM SABC (@METROFMSA) February 8, 2019

Makamo’s work forms part of a few collections such as those of fashion mogul Georgio Armani, musician Annie Lennox, TELKOM, Hanzehof Zutphense KunstCollectis.

I am really inspired to see My home boy from modimolle going international

— KE SHARP (@danielmarven) February 8, 2019

👏👏..well done it truly amazing,rise African child #Freshbreakfast

— Mo-Afrika Makhene (@kgabomotaki) February 8, 2019

Ntate....I love your work....stunning

— William Maki  (@williammaki1) February 8, 2019