A self-taught graffiti mural artist, painter, digital artist, live performer, and professional designer, Boitshwarelo, has dedicated his life to pushing artistic boundaries. Born and raised in Gaborone, and now based in Pretoria, South Africa, Boitshwarelo’s work is a fusion of cultural history and contemporary surrealism, often blending spray paint with unconventional surfaces such as wood, steel, and plastic. His creativity has not gone unnoticed, his unique approach has even caught the attention of international media, including the BBC. “I honestly did not choose to have this gift. I was rather given it by God. I believe this is a God-given gift, and I intend to use it to my absolute full potential because this is something I clearly can’t live without,” he says. Boitshwarelo’s artistic journey began early. He recalls a defining childhood moment in preschool when his teacher asked the class to draw an apple and write the word beside it. “I failed to write ‘apple,’ but my drawing execution was the best in the class. That was the moment I knew I was meant to be an artist,” he shares.
His passion continued to grow through secondary school, where he experimented with different artistic forms. However, it was in 2016 that he first picked up a spray can, marking his initial steps into street art. “I painted some signatures and doodles on my neighborhood walls. But it was only in mid-2019 when I had my first real contact with graffiti, while some graffiti writers painted outside my neighbourhood. That moment changed everything for me,” he elucidates. During the 2020 lockdown, he was forced to explore new ways of keeping his artistic fire alive. Experimenting with different materials, he stumbled upon spray painting on plastic, a challenging yet rewarding technique that became a signature element in his work. Boitshwarelo’s art is largely identified with surrealism, a genre that blends reality with dreamlike elements. “Surrealism seeks to channel the unconscious as a means to unlock the power of imagination,” he explains. His themes vary depending on inspiration, from nature and love to nightmares, personal growth, and life experiences. One of his most profound works, This Age of Scattered Attention, reflects the nature of growth and the experiences that shape individuals. “That painting offered me a deeper understanding of myself through reassigning old fears and adapting to the uncomfortable process of personal growth,” he reveals.
