Cyprian Mpho Shilakoe was born on 3rd August 1946 in Barberton, Eastern Transvaal. Shilakoe spent his childhood on an isolated mission station at Buchbeesreich in the Transvaal.

From 1968 to 1970 he was a pupil at Rorke's Drift and studied under Azaria Mbatha. In 1970 he settled at a Lutheran mission station near Roodepoort where he had a studio. He had a close working relationship with Dan Rakgoathe and produced wooden sculpture and etchings.

Shilakoe died in a motorcar accident in September 1972.

Exhibitions:

1968: DAM (Rorke's Drift-group).

1969: DAM (Art SA Today).

1970: Goodman Gallery (group).

1971: Goodman Gallery (solo).

Preston, UK (three-person exhibition with Winston Saoli and Leonard Matsoso).

Germany; Sweden; Denmark; Italy; USA

1972: University of California, USA (African Art).

Goodman Gallery (SA Graphics 1972).

1973: Goodman Gallery (Memorial Exhibition).

Goodman Gallery (Third Festival of SA Graphics).

1975: Goodman Gallery (SA Sculpture Exhibition).

1976: Canberra, Australia (SAArt- Canberra Week).

Brooklyn Museum and Public Library, New York, USA

(Black SA Contemporary Graphics).

1977-9: West Germany - tour (SA Graphic Art).

1979: SANG(SA Print makers).

1981: Jabulani Standard Bank, Soweto (Black Art Today).

1986: Alliance Francaise, Pretoria (Historical Perspective of Black Art in SA).

1987: TAG (Rorke's Drift Fine Art School in Retrospect).

SANG (Contemporary SA Prints and Drawings).

Awards:

1972: University of California, USA, African Art Exhibition (first prize for graphic art).

Collections:

DAMJAG; King George VI; Sandton Town Council; SANG; UZ.

References

Sack, S. (1988). The Neglected Tradition, Johannesburg: Johannesburg Art Gallery.

Collections in the Archives