Asanda Kupa
Residing in Johannesburg and
affiliated with the Bag Factory,
Asanda Kupa finds solace in
recurrent visits to his Eastern Cape
childhood home. These journeys
anchor him to his rural roots,
fostering a connection to an often
overlooked facet of the nation.
He holds a National Diploma in Fine
Art from Walter Sisulu University
and a BTech degree from Tshwane
University of Technology. Between
2009 and 2011, he resurrected the
Molteno Museum, revitalizing
artistic legacies.
As the distinguished recipient of the Ann Bryant Young Artist of the Year Award in 2010
and the Reinhold Cassirer Award in 2013, Kupa’s artistic narrative unfolds in prestigious
South African collections, including The Southern African Foundation for Contemporary
Art and Nando’s.
Founded in the heart of the Eastern Cape, a region integral to the beginnings of South
Africa’s mineworkers, Kupa’s artistic odyssey delves into the nuanced dynamics of
emerging societies. Now associated with M Studio Community, his work serves as a
testament to the marginalized voices within ‘The New South Africa,’ enduring the paradox
of a great rebirth that has, for some, is yet to be realized
