Nyatshane’s sculpting gains momentum
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday October 13, 2025 06:01
The 41-year-old self-taught sculptor, painter and exterior designer recently caught attention with his big-sized shoe cement sculpture. The Arts&Culture team visited Nyatshane at his homestead in Tlokweng this week, where they found a man living a simple life among his sculptures. Stepping into his yard, one is immediately struck by a palpable sign of talent, with the place turned into a garden. Nyatshane, who served time in prison from 2014 to 2022, says he found his purpose in life through art. “I have struggled in life. I have endured many challenges, but God located me. I believe my time in prison was punishment and a way of showing me the right path. But I believe that God has answered, and I believe that art will open doors for me,” Nyatshane said.
Nyatshane mostly does what he calls ground art, which involves landscaping, painting, accessories, sculpting and exterior design. Having first encountered and realised his love for art during junior secondary and senior school-going days, Nyatshane says he found it necessary to pick up where he left off when he was incarcerated. Nyatshane says he did many sculptures during his time in prison, which were displayed at intersections and places such as Parliament for the BOT50 celebrations in 2016. He says his shoe sculpture, which has been trending on Facebook, has earned him many admirers and clients. The sculpture measures 2m x 1m x 80cm and is suitable for public art. Explaining the shoe sculptor, Nyatshane says he titled it ‘Destiny’, which reflects his life journey marred by turbulence. He states that he started working on the sculpture in 2010, but was interrupted when he was sent to prison in 2014 and only got to finish it this year. The shoe is not just a sculpture but can serve many purposes, he says. “It can be a water reservoir as it can accommodate up to 500litres of water. It can also serve as a fish pond and exterior furniture or be used for studio purposes,” he explains.
He says the Thapong Visual Arts Centre Coordinator, Reginald Bakwena, played a pivotal role in encouraging him to join the centre. After stumbling upon the artist’s shoe sculpture, Bakwena introduced him to the Thapong Centre, facilitated his registration, and opened doors for him. “This shoe sculptor has opened doors for me after Bakwena once passed by my place and saw it. He immediately entered my yard and asked me if I knew of the Thapong centre. At the time, I had only heard about it but had never visited the place. He immediately proposed that I should register to be a member and assisted me with the registration,” he says. Nyatshane claims that he earns a living, thanks to his skills. In the few years he has been sculpting, he has revealed that he has seen enough change in his life and wants to have his own home. He says he wants to improve and evolve his sculpting and engage in other mediums, such as painting and drawing realistic sketches. At the moment, he says he has moved from cement sculpting to sculpting using fibreglass. “Although I like cement sculptures because of their long shelf life, I have also moved to fibreglass sculpting, and I also use old cloth in some instances.”