Durant Basi Sihlali (1935-2004)

Durant Basi Sihlali was a prominent South African artist, born in 1935 and passing in 2004. He is known for his modernist and realist works, primarily focusing on watercolours, metal sculptures made from car wrecks, and intricately carved wooden sculptures depicting coal miners in the Witwatersrand.

Sihlali studied art at the Moroko Chiawelo Centre from 1950 to 1953 and continued his education under Cecil Skotnes at the Polly Street Art Centre until 1958. He served as Head of Fine Arts at the Federated Union of Black Artists (Fuba) from 1983 until his death in 2004, contributing significantly to the South African art scene. His work has been showcased in notable exhibitions in cities such as Nuremberg, Athens, and Palermo.

Although he did not have solo exhibitions, Sihlali's work has been included in group exhibitions, notably at the Trees Collection Gallery in Beverly Hills. His art is a significant representation of South African culture and history, making his pieces valuable among collectors interested in modernist and realist movements.