Taking his art wherever he goes

Lebogang Kenneth Motsagi, 22, of Galeshwe, a township in Kimberly, is set to exhibit his work in London from September 19 to October 2.

The show will be at the Brick Lane Gallery, a contemporary fine art studio which exhibits eclectic contemporary art.

Motsagi is a self-taught fashion designer, stylist and photography freelancer. Having lost his parents and grandparents early in life, he sees his family’s passing as a blessing which shaped him to be the person he is today.

Art by Lebogang Motsagi.

“I see things in my mind that I would like to create. When I wake up I put myself under pressure of wanting to create all these things at once, but I don’t have enough time. That’s why I’m not so academic."

After matriculating in 2014, Motsagi enrolled at Cape Town University of Technology in 2015 to study design but he later dropped out. In 2016, he studied at the Cape Town College of Fashion Design.

Reflect self by Lebogang Motsagi.

“When I moved to Cape Town in 2016, my brother taught me how to thread the machine and from there on he let me do things myself. My fashion sense is mostly inspired by old people because the last person that I had to look after me was my grandfather.

I spent a lot of time with him, the way he dressed, the way he spoke and acted inspired my vintage work."

Lebogang Motsagi.

Motsagi’s work, both design and photography, dwells much on expressing feelings rather than looking good.

“Besides clothing, I also do photography, which focuses on fine art and fashion. It deals more with the individual’s inside than the physical, hence my brand’s slogan, The Blaq Room, is Fabrics have Feelings Too,” he says.