Lebo Thoka

Lebo Thoka (b.1996) is a photographer and artist who was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. Her work is mainly influenced by being a Feminist and covers topics such as femicide in South Africa, navigating South Africa as a black woman, as well as the black female existence in proximity to topics such as religion, history vs present day etc.

Lebo Thoka (b. 1996) is a photography graduate from the Open Window Institute in Pretoria. Born and raised in Johannesburg, Thoka has been a freelance photographer since her graduation in 2015. Thoka is a self-identified feminist whose feminism lends itself to her first body of work: It is well: An Ode to Karabo. It is in this framework of feminist thought that the artist addresses “the complexities of existing as a woman within an overtly violent society that only assigns value to women within the confines of race, class, religion etc”. Thoka was one of 14 artists to participate in the Bag Factory Artists’ Studio and Art Source’s Artist Career Boot Camp Programme in 2019. The three-month programme offered emerging artists professional practice training towards building sustainable careers in the industry. The programme closed off with a group exhibition of the participating artists’ works. Lebo Thoka began collaborating with David Krut Projects (DKP) in 2018, when an exhibition of her first series of fine art photography, entitled It is Well: An Ode to Karabo, was exhibited at the bookstore space. The series has since been shown in 2018’s 5th edition of Addis Foto Fest. In 2020, Thoka's second solo exhibition took place online in association with Artsy and was titled Seeds of the Dirt. In 2021, Thoka's third solo project titled Eden opened at 151 Jan Smuts Avenue, showcasing works from her previous projects alongside new images. These works were also included in a collaborative exhibition entitled I Exist! at AKKA Project Venenzia alongside fellow photographer Margaret Ngigi (Kenya) which opened in July 2021. Lebo has also featured in an episode of the David Krut Podcast - Seeds of the Dirt.

Artworks

Black of my Flesh, 2020

Initiation of Mary, 2020

Seeds of Dirt; Mother undefiled, 2019

Seeds of Dirt; Our lady of good deliverance, 2019

Seeds of Dirt; House of Gold, 2019

Seeds of Dirt; Health of the Sick, 2019

Seeds of Dirt; Refuge of Sinners, 2019

Seeds of Dirt; Mother inviolate, 2019

News

DKP x Young artists to keep on your radar.

Jun. 15, 2022

Gallery collaborations, artist residencies and curated art exhibitions are all ways that David Krut Projects are involved with the youth...

Tags: David Krut Print Workshop, David Krut Projects Johannesburg, Exhibition, lebo thoka, Lebogang Mabusela, Monotype, Monotypebabe, Parallel Process, Printmaking

A Look Back at Editions, Projects & Collaborations from 2021

Jan. 12, 2022

The year 2021 was a productive one in the workshop and the gallery. We saw editions and projects by a...

Tags: Arts on Main, David Krut Print Workshop, David Krut Projects Johannesburg, Printmaking

Podcast Playlist: Top episodes 2020 – 2021

Oct. 30, 2021

Take a listen to this playlist of the top episodes of our podcast where we have spoken to various artists...

Tags: David Krut Podcast

A look back at new editions, projects & collaborations from 2020

Jan. 15, 2021

The year 2020 was a productive year as we saw new editions and projects by a variety of artists in...

Tags: 2020

David Krut Podcast & Video Playlist: Womens Month 2020

Aug. 11, 2020

The David Krut Projects team wishes you a very HAPPY WOMEN'S MONTH!! We are keeping you inspired by bringing you...

Tags: David Krut Podcast, Female Artists, podcasts, Videos, Women's Month

David Krut Podcast – Lebo Thoka, Seeds of the Dirt | 28 minutes

Jul. 28, 2020

In this episode, Britt Lawton catches up with artist/ photographer Lebo Thoka on the progression of her career since her first solo exhibition – It is well: Ode...

Tags: David Krut Podcast, Exhibition Post, lebo thoka, Seeds of the Dirt