Khanya Zibaya
Khanya Zibaya (b. 1994) is a contemporary South African multidisciplinary artist. He grew up a curious child, always inquisitive about his surroundings. This led to an early realisation of what he calls, “the chase of life” – that is, the multilayered and complex faces people wear in society. Zibaya’s passion for telling stories stemmed from unravelling these layers.
Khanya Zibaya (b. 1994) is a multidisciplinary storyteller, born in a small village in the Eastern Cape called Sikote in Mount Fletcher. He now lives and practices in Johannesburg. Zibaya works with visual performance, experimental video work, experimental painting, sculptural, installation and photography. This also includes bodies and found objects to create juxtapositions of realities.
For his work, he has been recognised by the National Art Festival Student Theatre Awards for Best Actor(s) and Best Writer(s)Award, 2019; Where The Leaves Fall Magazine, London, Winner, 2023; Photo Tool 10:10, Photography Presentation Workshop, 2023 ;Lagos Photo Festival Portfolio Review, 2023; CAP Prize 2024, Shortlisted; Blessing Ngobeni Art Prize,Top 8 Finalists 2024 and Void x Futures Photography 2025 shortlist.
Khanya Zibaya grew up a curious child, always inquisitive about his surroundings. This led to an early realisation of what he calls, “the chase of life” - that is, the multilayered and complex faces people wear in society. Zibaya’s passion for telling stories stemmed from unravelling these layers. As an alumni of the Market Theatre Laboratory, he creates photographs with his cellphone.
He was first introduced to the David Krut Workshop in 2025 when He a Jonathan Goschen from Vela Projects Gallery. The two were fiven a tour of the workshop and Zibaya was later invited to come in a create some works. His time in the workshop commenced in March where he collaborated with DKW printer Jesse Shepstone on a small series of pronto lithography collages.
