COMPILED BY Michaela Stehr ILLUSTRATIONS Supplied
Here’s a creative crash course on six talented local illustrators whose work should be on your radar.
Wes Leal
Originally from Johannesburg, now living in Cape Town, Wes Leal likes to create playful work that doesn’t take itself too seriously, with lots of bright primary colours.
Inspired by Flat illustrations and children’s book illustrations.
Known for Playing with unexpected perspectives, colourful characters and an overall queer approach towards creating scenes and worlds within illustrations.
Dream project “I’d love to work alongside a cool children’s-book author, creating a happy, inclusive, educational book about gender expression, and touching on sexuality in a light, playful and easily palatable way that both kids and parents can enjoy and learn from.”
Alter ego “It would probably be a fiddle leaf fig tree. I’m a fast grower under the right conditions, and if I’m happy, I’m thriving in life. Ultimately, I’d love to just chill in a sunny spot with my water requirements met.” | wesleal.com
Khanya Kemami, AKA Wacomboy
Born, raised and still living in Joburg, Khanya’s digital illustrations exist somewhere between pop art, Afrofuturism, horror art, cartooning and anime.
Known for Works and exhibitions at an event formerly known as WOKEARTS; and a self-avatar-creation developer using a Japanese site called Picrew in 2020/2021. “I’ve worked on projects with local and international brands such as Netflix, Showmax and MTV Base Africa, as well as with several amazing South African musicians. So really, I’m known for passion-based, fun projects.”
Dream project “Something that involves large-scale applied printing – perhaps for cars, storefronts, buildings or even a book range. Or a graphic clothing range with H&M, Markham, Woolworths or Shelflife! I’d also love to have a collaborative contract with a liquor brand, where I can handle packaging design. My ultimate goal is to get into animation, and open a tattoo studio (I’m also a tattoo artist).”
Alter ego “Honestly, a heavily tattooed version of Winnie-the-Pooh, or Shelby from Adventure Time!” | @wacom_boy
Pola Maneli
Born and based in Port Elizabeth, Pola’s illustration style is heavily comic book-influenced, with slight hints of realism.
Known for Editorial illustrations for The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Atlantic and The New Statesman. “I’ve also worked on projects for Google, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and Constitution Hill.”
Dream project “A series of book covers, illustrating an entire magazine from cover to cover, or perhaps an advertising campaign. Basically, anything that would allow for multiple iterations of a concept.”
Alter ego “Probably the version of me that appears whenever I have to project an air of confidence to clients – as opposed to the acute anxiety that I usually experience!” | bio.site/polamaneli
Kobie “Koba” Niewoudt
Originally from Kuilsrivier, Kobie lives in Gardens, Cape Town. She describes her style as colourful and sassy.
Known for Her “funny animations”.
Dream project “Creating a textile or fashion range, and a body of work that combines animation and traditional art.”
Alter ego “Elaine Benes from Seinfeld” | kobanieuwoudt.co.za
Kat Cameron
Kat was born in Cape Town but grew up all over South Africa. She now lives in Barcelona, Spain. Her style is whimsical and narrative, incorporating mixed media.
Known for Custom children’s illustrations.
Dream project “To continue illustrating children’s books – but I’d love to work with indie publishers on some of my books.”
Alter ego “Totoro from the Studio Ghibli animation.” | katcameron.com
Leigh Le Roux
Cape Town-born Leigh spent most of his life in Johannesburg. “The city has an energy to it that makes me excited to create.”
Inspired by The shapes and forms that feel natural for him to draw. He’s developed a unique, versatile style, so that his work could be observed “from a distance”, and be created using just three colours if needed.
Known for Subject matter related to characters spending time with those they care about. “The videos I started creating to document my journey as an artist in Johannesburg are my signature.”
Dream project “I don’t think I know what that is yet, because
I enjoy exploring. My exploration of various mediums helped me discover spray-painting. I’m drawn to doing murals at the moment, so if I could cover a building one day, that might even be a dream project.”
Alter ego “Me, when I’m recording videos of my process. In those videos, I have to convey my belief in what I’m doing, so I get really serious.” | leighsillustrations.carrd.co
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