Kgomo draws without applause
Lucy Kgweetsi | Friday July 4, 2025 12:37
His medium of choice: pencil and paper. His method: discipline and quiet persistence. “I started at six, I just always wanted to draw. I grew up loving paper and pencil,” he says. What began as curiosity turned into lifelong practice. Today, Kgomo works as a full-time artist based in Gaborone. His drawings take about a month and a half each to complete. Every portrait is the result of what he calls his “3Ps”: patience, practice, and persistence. The phrase sums up his entire approach to art: not rushed, not decorative, and not trend-driven. His work engages with themes such as mental health, the Black experience, African culture, and social or political injustice. Though his style is rooted in traditional portraiture, Kgomo aims to move beyond aesthetic concerns. “I want people to feel something when they look at my work. I want it to communicate,” he said.
In 2023, one of his portraits was sold to a buyer in South Carolina, USA. The transaction happened through social media, without the help of any gallery or agent. “That was the biggest moment of my career so far, but it was also just one step. My real goal is to exhibit my work here in Botswana, ” he explained. Kgomo has been a member of Thapong Visual Arts Centre since 2013. He credits the space with shaping his understanding of quality. “When I first joined, I used to see these amazing pieces by other artists. It made me pay attention. It made me want to improve,” he recalls. The process of improvement has not been without obstacles. Kgomo points to a consistent lack of access to materials. He mentioned that he often has ideas in mind, but doesn’t have the right tools to create them and that’s one of the biggest challenges he faces. Commissions help. Kgomo regularly draws portraits for local clients, particularly family-based requests. These jobs allow him to keep working while also funding more personal, long-term pieces. He mentions a small circle of loyal supporters who have helped him stay active through the slower periods. “Some people genuinely appreciate what I do. That helps,” he says.
Though he sold work internationally, Kgomo maintains that local engagement is more important. “People here need to see these pieces in person. The quality, the technique, the detail, you can’t fully appreciate it through a screen,” said Kgomo. He avoids artistic branding, doesn’t push a polished online persona, and prefers to let the work speak for itself. He explained that he’s not trying to chase hype, he just wants to improve, be consistent, and eventually do a proper exhibition. Kgomo’s tone is steady. He doesn’t frame his path as a struggle or triumph. For him, it’s a routine built on years of daily effort, often unnoticed. “Art is not just a talent, it’s a structure. It’s how I express, how I work, and how I try to contribute something real,” he says. For now, the focus remains the same: draw, improve, complete the next piece. Whether the spotlight arrives or not, the pencil continues.