In this moving conversation, Cape Town-based sculptural ceramicist Zizipho Poswa joins Refiloe Mpakanyane to share the personal, cultural and spiritual underpinnings of her extraordinary art practice.
Known for her monumental ceramic and bronze sculptures celebrating African womanhood, Poswa opens up about her rural Eastern Cape upbringing, the powerful women who shaped her, and the ancestral callings that fuel her creative vision. From co-founding Imiso Ceramics with almost no capital, to exhibiting at global institutions like LACMA and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Poswa reflects on her path with humility, purpose and fire.
She and Refiloe unpack her creative rituals, her career-defining partnership with Southern Guild, and the tension between craft and fine art - as well as the urgent need to preserve work on the continent so future generations don’t have to fly to foreign museums to see themselves reflected in art.
This not-to-be-missed conversation incorporates personal history, creative entrepreneurship, cultural pride and legacy-building.
Highlights include:
- How Zizipho Poswa's mother's belief laid the foundation for her artistic journey
- Founding Imiso Ceramics on a shoestring and a vision
- Spiritual rituals and ancestral messages as creative guidance
- Her dream of keeping important works accessible to African audiences
- The leap into bronze and what it means for legacy
Referenced exhibitions & institutions:
- iLobola | uBuhle boKhokho | Indyebo yakwaNtu
- Southern Guild (Cape Town & LA)
- LACMA, The Met, Princeton University Art Museum
- Louis Vuitton x LOEWE collaborations
- Frieze Sculpture, Regents Park, London
Chapter 1, spanning episodes 1-3 of Season 2 of the Latitudes Podcast, offers a foundational guide to entering and engaging with the art world. A resource-driven series providing practical tools for emerging artists and enthusiasts to navigate the art world’s complexities. Featuring first-hand insights from artists, arts educators, and professionals who demystify the industry and share actionable guidance on residencies, networking, and career building.
Powered by iTOO Artinsure
Supported by Business and Arts South Africa (BASA)
Co-curated by Art School Africa
Hosted by Refiloe Mpakanyane