Ben Macala

Ben Macala was born in Bloemfontein in 1938.

He spent part of his youth in the countryside and later grew up as a member of an urbanized Black community in Gauteng. He started his art career in 1965 and although largely self-taught, he from time to time worked with fellow artist, Ephraim Ngatane. He also attended classes under Cecil Skotnes and Bill Ainslie at the Jubilee Art Centre in Johannesburg in 1967. Although Macala started off as a sculptor he also became very well known for his pictorial work. In his sculpture as well as in his paintings and drawings he is especially fond of creating heads, most often female heads as well as mother-and-child studies.

He worked in crayons and mixed media. Some of his earlier faces were Madonna-like, with serene qualities. These later became popularized and stylized and he began presenting these faces in group compositions. His latter works before his death tend to be more refined and also decorative, compared to many of his earlier works. He was one of the first commercial black artists who’s work was seen all over the country, even in the days of Apartheid.

Exhibitions :

Macala was included in the African Painters and Sculptors from Johannesburg Exhibition at the Piccadilly Gallery in London in 1965.

1967 - Fist solo-exhibition in Johannesburg

1968 - Artists of Fame and Promise Exhibition

1981 - Black Art Today Exhibition

1987 - African Images Exhibition

1988 - Neglected Tradition Exhibition, Johannesburg Art Gallery

He has participated in several South African group exhibitions and abroad in Australia, Europe and the U.S.A.

Represented :

Many private collections in South Africa and abroad.

South African National Gallery, Cape Town

King George IV Gallery, Port Elizabeth

University of Fort Hare

University of the Witwatersrand

University of South Africa as well as other University collections