Pateletso Mokgotle’s work explores the shared humanity that unites us, confronting themes of pain, identity, migration, and transformation. Through layered paintings that combine canvas, pigments, and organic materials, she creates tactile journeys where colors embody emotion and textures evoke memory. Rooted in African heritage yet speaking a universal language, his practice seeks to challenge perception, nurture empathy, and celebrate resilience.
Visual artist who moved near Udine from South Africa, Pateletso Mokgotle’s artistic statement focuses on what unites and divides humans: “My work begins with a question: what unites us as humanity, and what divides us? Why are some seen as “winners” while others are cast as “losers”?
How do the roles of oppressor and victim interact? Through painting, I explore pain as a catalyst for growth, the ephemeral nature of life, and the interconnectedness of humans with one another and with nature.
At the same time, I reflect on origin and identity—forces that can ground us, but when misinterpreted, can create division and othering, as in the experience of forced migration. I challenge social structures such as politics, religion, and cultural traditions when they become obstacles to self-discovery and human development.
I see spirituality as a path of healing and redemption, and my work often turns toward themes of transformation and rebirth. Consciousness and self-awareness, both individual and collective, are at the center of this search for shared values and direction.
My practice is deeply personal yet socio-political, rooted in African heritage and shaped by diverse life experiences. I honor the strength and resilience passed down by my ancestors, while also reinterpreting limiting beliefs. Though emerging from Africa, my narratives seek to transcend boundaries of time, space, race, and religion, and to speak the universal language of the soul.
Technically, my paintings are layered constructions of canvas, acrylic, enamel, sand, bark, and textiles. These materials embody multiple meanings: my own as the artist, and those brought by the viewer.
Colors become emotion; textures become memory. This layering weaves a tactile and visual journey that connects the tangible with the intangible, the lasting with the fleeting.
I allow myself freedom in material choice, guided only by meaning. I may paint on discarded cardboard to show beauty in imperfection and resilience in vulnerability. I sometimes shred finished canvases to reuse in new works, embracing deliberate destruction as a metaphor for transformation.
This act reflects trust in intuition and the courage to go beyond the “satisfactory” toward the “exceptional,” mirroring humanity’s constant striving for purpose. Through this practice, I aim to challenge perception, encourage, empathy, and celebrate the shared humanity that connects us all.
