Photo by @karabo_poppy
Moving to Johannesburg from her small South Africa hometown was an inspiration game-changer for Karabo Poppy Moletsane (@karabo_poppy), a 25-year-old illustrator, street artist and graphic designer. “A larger city showed me amplified versions of the South African idiosyncrasies that make our culture so unique,” says Karabo. “These characteristics have always been a central theme for my work, and living in Johannesburg means that I get to fully immerse myself in a city that I perceive to be a great representation of where South Africa is headed.”
Karabo’s fascination with art began when she was a little girl, watching signs being painted for barbershops and salons; in high school, her passion grew as she was introduced to graphic design and she came more into her own style, winning a few awards along the way. These days, she creates murals, designs and illustrations for global brands from her studio in the Braamfontein neighborhood, all with the hopes of “preserving the African aesthetic, exploring contemporary Africa and inspiring others to do the same,” she says. “My dream would be to represent a contemporary Africa well in my work, and leave a legacy that would inspire more young, black females to pursue careers in the arts.”
Watch our Instagram story now to see Karabo at work. ?