Presentation
Born in in Malatana, Mozambique, in 1936, Malangatana is widely acknowledged to be the most importante African painter of the 20th century.
Malangatana joins the „Núcleo de Arte“ (Art Nucleus) in 1958, where he is supported by painter Zé Júlio.
His work is first presented in 1959, in a collective exhibition organized by the „Núcleo de Arte“ in Mozambique. The Architect Pancho Guedes allows him to dedicate to painting in full, in 1960, lending his garage for his studio and buying him two works a month. Malangatana also lived at the house of Pancho Guedes.
In 1961 he has his first solo exhibition, which granted him the attention of the „Black Orpheus“ magazine. At the closing of this first exhibition he is invited to take part in the collective exhibition „Imagination 61“ (Capetown, South Africa.1962). He would begin exhibiting regularly in 1962, taking part in exhibitions in Nigeria, India, Paquistan and in Paris that year.
He is arrested by PIDE (Portuguese Political Police) in 1965 for suspicion of affiliation with FRELIMO. He remains inprisoned for 18 months.
He receives a Calouste Gulbekian grant in 1971. He would return to Europe in 1973 / 74, traveling through many
countries. Both travels would have a deep impact on his work, that seemed to gain even further connection to the struggle of his people.
In 1977 he is charged, by the Minister of Education and Culture, firstly with the creation of the Arts and Crafts Gallery and later with the creation of the National Arts Museum.
He returns to Maputo in 1980, where he is appointed Director of the Arts and Crafts Department, supporting intensively the development of the artisans cooperatives of Maputo. He would cease functions in 1985, to dedicate exclusively to painting.
He was awarded with the UNESCO Artist for Peace award, the Machingwea Medal for Contribution to Mozambican Culture, and pronounced Great Official of the Order of the Infant D. Henriques.
His work is represented in museums, galleries and private collections all over the world: the M‘Bari (Oshogbo, Nigeria), the Museum of Contemporary Art (Lisbon, Portugal), the National Museum of Luanda (Mozambique), the National Gallery of Contemporary Art in New Deli (India), the National Art Gallery (Zimbabwe), the Centre of Modern Art of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Lisbon, Portugal) and the National Museum of Art (Mozambique), to name but a few.
In 2016, Tate Modern opened its new wing with a 1967 painting of Malangatana. Proof of what has been a permanent renovation of the interest in the work of Malangatana.
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Malangatana joins the „Núcleo de Arte“ (Art Nucleus) in 1958, where he is supported by painter Zé Júlio.
His work is first presented in 1959, in a collective exhibition organized by the „Núcleo de Arte“ in Mozambique. The Architect Pancho Guedes allows him to dedicate to painting in full, in 1960, lending his garage for his studio and buying him two works a month. Malangatana also lived at the house of Pancho Guedes.
In 1961 he has his first solo exhibition, which granted him the attention of the „Black Orpheus“ magazine. At the closing of this first exhibition he is invited to take part in the collective exhibition „Imagination 61“ (Capetown, South Africa.1962). He would begin exhibiting regularly in 1962, taking part in exhibitions in Nigeria, India, Paquistan and in Paris that year.
He is arrested by PIDE (Portuguese Political Police) in 1965 for suspicion of affiliation with FRELIMO. He remains inprisoned for 18 months.
He receives a Calouste Gulbekian grant in 1971. He would return to Europe in 1973 / 74, traveling through many
countries. Both travels would have a deep impact on his work, that seemed to gain even further connection to the struggle of his people.
In 1977 he is charged, by the Minister of Education and Culture, firstly with the creation of the Arts and Crafts Gallery and later with the creation of the National Arts Museum.
He returns to Maputo in 1980, where he is appointed Director of the Arts and Crafts Department, supporting intensively the development of the artisans cooperatives of Maputo. He would cease functions in 1985, to dedicate exclusively to painting.
He was awarded with the UNESCO Artist for Peace award, the Machingwea Medal for Contribution to Mozambican Culture, and pronounced Great Official of the Order of the Infant D. Henriques.
His work is represented in museums, galleries and private collections all over the world: the M‘Bari (Oshogbo, Nigeria), the Museum of Contemporary Art (Lisbon, Portugal), the National Museum of Luanda (Mozambique), the National Gallery of Contemporary Art in New Deli (India), the National Art Gallery (Zimbabwe), the Centre of Modern Art of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Lisbon, Portugal) and the National Museum of Art (Mozambique), to name but a few.
In 2016, Tate Modern opened its new wing with a 1967 painting of Malangatana. Proof of what has been a permanent renovation of the interest in the work of Malangatana.
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What is Malangatana Valente Ngwenya’s artistic movement?
The artistic movements of the artists are: African Aesthetic
When was Malangatana Valente Ngwenya born?
The year of birth of the artist is: 1936