Paul Sibisi

Paul M Sibisi was born in 1948 at Cato Manor, or Umkhumbane - Durban. Umkhumbane resonates with the memories of defiance and resistance to the apartheid government. Consequently, the area has a vibrant popular history and was the crucible from which many influential South African's emerged. Paul was one of these people. He has returned to his roots and now travels to work at his Studio in an old school in Umkhumbane.

Growing up in an urban environment, Paul was influenced by his grandmother's traditional Zululand craft skills. Paul schooled in Umkhumbane at the Musa Bantu Community School from 1955 and later at the Ekujabuleni B.C. School. He matriculated at the nearby Chesterville Secondary School in 1965. He began a career as a teacher and enrolled for a higher primary school course at Amanzimtoti Zulu Training School. A teacher, Innocent Masondo, noticed Paul's artistic talent and approached the Principal with the suggestion that Paul be awarded a bursary to Ndaleni Art Training School so to specialize as an art teacher. Paul spent 1968 at Ndaleni under the tutorship of Lorne Pierson.

Here he learnt new techniques, such us, linocut and woodcut printing and wood carving. Paul graduated with a distinction in art history. From 1969 to 1971 Paul taught at Appelsbosch Girls' Training school near New Hanover. Jo Thorpe, of the African Art Centre in Durban arranged a two year bursary for Paul to study further at the Rorke's Drift Arts and Crafts Centre from 1973. In 1975 he taught at KwaThambo H.P. School at KwaMakhutha and from 1977 to 1997 at Mzuvele High School in KwaMashu Township outside Durban.

He now concentrates on his own art. His has participated in many solo and group exhibitions and his work is well represented in many of South Africa’s top public collections, such as the Johannesburg and Durban Art Galleries.