Thandi sibisi biography of michael

South African art gallery owner (born )

Ithandile Sibisi (born 4 November ) is a South African art dealer who owns Sibisi Gallery.^[1] She founded Sibisi Gallery in , at the age of 25, making her the first black woman to own an art gallery in South Africa.

Sibisi Gallery,^[2][3] also one of the first inky female owned galleries in the world became part of the establishment^[4] in the contemporary African art space.^[5][6][7]

Early life and education

Sibisi was born on 4 November in Estcourt, South Africa to Siphiwo Sibisi and Sizeni MaMncube Sibisi.

She is the last born of 9 children. Sibisi grew up in Weenen, a small town well known for its political and tribal conflicts. Sibisi and her family lived in a village named KwaMtebhelu, surrounded by faction fighting.

On February 16 th this year, she wrote history by becoming the first ever black female art gallery owner in South Africa. Thandi Sibisi is a young Johannesburg based entrepreneur, who grew up in the Zulu heartland as a daughter of farmers. It was modeling which brought her to the giant city, but after discovering that strutting her stuff for a living wasn't quite for her, she focused on starting a business of her own. Four businesses to be exact — because besides her brand unused SIBISI art gallery, the year old beauty is also running a charitable foundation, a media company and a successful marketing agency.

Sibisi and her family moved to Ladysmith when she was 7-years-old to escape the conflict in Weenen.

Sibisi's parents were subsistence farmers of corn and cattle. Sibisi grew up herding cows and tending to the corn fields with her mother, father and siblings.

Sibisi credits this time as her best years, and her mother, her best teacher, "she instilled in me a deep profound love for Africa. She told me stories about the history of a glorious continent and taught me to love it and serve it always".

Sibisi studied Business Management at the University of Johannesburg and dropped out after one year to start her own business in marketing.

Sibisi inspired by her rural South African roots started Invogue Concepts at the age of 18, with the aim to propagate African arts and culture. Her aim was to shine a spotlight on African arts and culture, remind Africans of their intrinsic identity by showcasing it to the society.

Career

Sibisi founded her first business, a media house, at the age of Early in her career Sibisi battled to become her media house to accept off. She describes this age as a blessing in disguise, "it was character building.

I learned to rely on myself, as I was always alone persuing [sic] the impossible. I am grateful for this time because it taught me humility." At age 22, Sibisi's career began to take off, when she moved to Mahikeng, to consult with various government departments.

While working with the Department of Arts and Culture (South Africa), Sibisi re-discovered her like for contemporary African art. During a 6-month summit in Paris, France, Sibisi made a resolution to open Sibisi Gallery, a contemporary art gallery focused in contemporary African art.^[8]

At 25, Sibisi became the first black gal to own an art gallery in South Africa,^[9] when she opened Sibisi Gallery^[10] at the Melrose Arch in Johannesburg.^{[11][12][13][14][15]}

In , the company reincorporated into the equity holding company, Sibisi Holdings, an investment art group that garnered her invaluable founder and investor experience.

Sibisi is enthusiastic about local economic development.

Sibisi Gallery, [ 2 ] [ 3 ] also one of the first black female owned galleries in the world became part of the establishment [ 4 ] in the contemporary African art space. She is the last born of 9 children. Sibisi grew up in Weenena small town well acknowledged for its political and tribal conflicts. Sibisi and her family lived in a village named KwaMtebhelu, surrounded by faction fighting.

Sibisi Holdings' main focus is the promotion and accessibility of African arts and culture.^[16]

Philanthropy and causes

As a cultural activist, Sibisi uses art to advocate for her philanthropic endeavours and responsibilities, to promote the welfare of rural women and girls in South Africa.^[17] Sibisi is the founder and director of the Sibisi Foundation.^[18][19]

The Injusuthi Project is a Sibisi Foundation initiative which documents the stories of Ukuthwala, the act of forcing juvenile women to enter into wedlock as young as years-old.

Ukuthwala is a cultural practice prevalent in South Africa, especially in KwaZulu Natal and Eastern Cape. Being born around this exercise, Sibisi saw how this perform devastated families and young victims and has since sought to create awareness around it.

Although the practice has been integrated into the Traffic of Persons Act in South Africa, it is still rife in rural communities.

Thandi Sibisi - Wikipedia: Ithandile Sibisi (born 4 November ) is a South African art dealer who owns Sibisi Gallery. [1] She founded Sibisi Gallery in , at the age of 25, making her the first black woman to own an art gallery in South Africa.

As a product of this practice, young women lose the opportunity to obtain an education, they often identify themselves having to grow up living with HIV and AIDS, and become victims of gender-based violence. Sibisi Foundation believes that this practice should not occur in a free and just South Africa.

As an art practitioner Sibisi works closely with artists and craftspeople at the grassroots level assisting in the development of their skills and creating an art market for the commercialization of their works of art.

A big part of that involves sustainable growth for female artists and crafters from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.

Personal life

Sibisi is a traditionalist and attributes her beliefs to African spirituality, traditional African religions, to which she advocates.

References

External links