Mizraim Maseko - (also documented as Mizream Maseko – Mizriam Maseko and Mizram Maseko), was born in 1927 in the former Transvaal. As a boy, he was fond of drawing. Later, Mizraim worked as a house painter. He was inspired by 'paintings in frames' he saw in the homes he worked in, then bought a book by Max Doerner called: Materials of the Artist, which was published in 1934. He obtained watercolour and oil paints and tried painting himself. He eventually gave up house painting altogether, in favour of hand-painting designs on scarves, which he sold, to a shop.

Two rare scarves by examples by Mizraim Maseko

Mizraim Maseko met South African artist John Koenakeefe Mohl, who encouraged him to take painting more 'seriously'. John built Mizriam's confidence by showing him more painting techniques. In 1963, they exhibited jointly at the Apollo Gallery in Johannesburg.


Mizraim Maseko became inspired by another book that dealt with various creative approaches to working on leather, by H.J. Groenewald. He then experimented with stretching, staining, painting and embossing hide, which had been imported. The result were painting as these on offer, executed with thin textured leather and board.

Later in life, Mizram became a deacon in the Zionist Church. He moved to Polokwane in Limpopo Province where he died at the age of 67.
 

Scroll Down

Mizraim Maseko

Collections:

Afri-Karner Museum Trust
Campbell Smith Collection
Killie Campbell Collection
Voortrekker Musuem
Johannesburg Art Gallery
Boston Museum - USA
 

High resolution images and price available on request.