05 August 2025 — Johannesburg
FNB Art Joburg, Africa’s leading contemporary art fair, has announced Thato Toeba as the winner of the 2025 FNB Art Prize, a prestigious accolade that recognises exceptional talent on the continent.
Now in its 18th year, the FNB Art Prize is more than just an award — it’s a symbol of deep commitment to nurturing and celebrating African creativity. This year’s jury included Kim Kandan (FNB Art Joburg), Kenneth Montague (WEDGE Collection, Canada), and Janine Gaëlle Dieudji (Smithsonian National Museum of African Art).
“Thato Toeba’s practice holds a quiet force,” the jury said.
“Through collage and assemblage, their visual language is layered and rich — formally mature, conceptually clear, and emotionally resonant.”
Toeba now joins an elite group of previous winners such as Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude, Dada Khanyisa, Lady Skollie, and Kudzanai Chiurai — artists whose work has helped shape the contemporary art scene across Africa and beyond.
🎨 Why Toeba’s Work Stands Out
Born in 1990 in Maseru, Thato Toeba is more than an artist — they are also a lawyer and social sciences researcher. Their work combines mixed-media photomontage with assemblage, creating artworks that are thoughtful, political, and deeply personal.
From their debut solo exhibition Phate lia Lekana at Stevenson in Johannesburg to group exhibitions in Cape Town and Maseru, Toeba’s pieces have continued to challenge narratives and push boundaries.
“Their work doesn’t just show the world, it questions it,” says FNB Art Joburg MD, Mandla Sibeko.
“In a time of surface-level messages, Toeba’s slow, deliberate storytelling is more important than ever.”
🧩 More Than Just Art — A Powerful Reflection on Identity
Toeba’s art addresses how Black life is seen, shaped, and sometimes distorted. Their collages blend photographs, textures, and found materials into visual puzzles that invite viewers to pause, look again, and reflect.
These are not passive images — they are conversations about identity, care, power, and representation.
From moments of tenderness to expressions of resistance, every piece feels like a page from a living journal — layered, truthful, and brave.
🏆 What’s Next for Toeba?
As the 15th recipient of the FNB Art Prize, Thato Toeba will receive a cash award and a solo exhibition at the Johannesburg Art Gallery in 2026 — home to the largest art collection on the continent.
FNB Chief Marketing Officer, Faye Mfikwe, shared:
“This award highlights our belief in art as a powerful tool for change. Through the FNB Art Prize, we proudly invest in the continent’s cultural future — one visionary artist at a time.”
👁 A Legacy in the Making
Toeba’s journey is a testament to what happens when an artist chooses depth over speed, honesty over perfection, and story over spectacle. In their hands, collage becomes a lens, and assemblage becomes a language — one that challenges us to see the world, and ourselves, with greater clarity.
As Africa continues to define its own narrative on the global stage, artists like Thato Toeba remind us why art still matters — and always will.
