Hailing from Kgabalatsane in the North West, Kgafela Loate is a visual art graduate from UNISA whose creative journey began at the age of 10 as a self-taught artist. Initially working with graphite, he later explored charcoal, acrylics, and watercolours, before finding his distinctive voice through stylized art and intricate scribble drawings—often created using pen.
Growing up in an underdeveloped environment where many abandoned their gifts and potential, Kgafela turned to art as a means of survival and self-expression. In confronting the mental and emotional void around him, he channeled his energy into creating as a way to navigate and cope with mental health challenges.
His work delves into the complexities of mental dissonance and interior monologue, using visual language to articulate the often-overlooked struggles within the mind.
