Amy Ayanda Lester
Biography
Amy Ayanda Lester, an artist and musician based in Cape Town, South Africa, finds inspiration in the local landscape, particularly in the flora, colours and people. She holds an Honours degree in Painting from the Michaelis School of Fine Art. Throughout her career, Amy has exhibited her work independently and has been a notable participant in numerous group exhibitions.
She finds inspiration in the local landscape, particularly in the flora, colours and people. Her art, ranging from paintings to prints, frequently features proteas, fynbos, and the iconic mountain silhouette, drawing from her family’s experience of connection to the land, and the grief of being forcibly removed from their flower farm due to Apartheid forced removals. Forced removals under apartheid laws inform her exploration of land and belonging. Amy’s artistic journey, rooted in themes of connection, memory and loss, themes that find contradiction with the natural beauty of the land. Her work weaves these themes and contradictions into both her paintings and her music.
