Banana Club Artist Fund (BCAF) is thrilled to welcome Katlego C.L. Twala as our Autumn/Winter 2025 artist in residence
Twala (b. 2000, Gaborone, Botswana) is a contemporary painter trained at the Swedish Academy of Realist Art and the Barcelona Academy of Art, known for her striking figurative portraits that merge classical technique with modern social commentary. Her work explores masculinity through a feminist lens, drawing from the philosophies of bell hooks, Freud, and Carl Jung to unpack themes of identity, gender, and human connection.
As part of the BCAF residency, Twala is developing a new body of work that explores the mother-son relationship—inviting us to reflect on the dynamics at play within broader conversations around masculinity in today’s society, particularly in Africa.
“Being raised in a very matriarchal home heavily influenced my curiosity about understanding the dynamics I was raised in.” – Katlego C.L. Twala
Working from family photographs, her portraits reflect on masculinity, memory, and the quiet power of maternal influence. How does the boy-child navigate life? What does being a man look like to him, especially in the absence of a paternal figure?
Throughout the residency, Twala is in conversation with her mentor, Oratile Papi Konopi—a multidisciplinary visual artist, curator, and exhibition maker. Konopi’s practice poeticizes and highlights the nuances of everyday lived experiences of often-overlooked subjects. Through his artistic body of work, Ênê, an anthology of artworks that invite people to think and talk about the complexities of themes such as identity, gender and sexuality, romance, and faith. Exploring how these experiences are mediated through language & culture. Through his work, Konopi listens to stories and narrates allegories of what it is/ was/ could be yourself in place(s) that are diverse and in constant change.
Rooted in storytelling, identity, and the politics of place, Konopi’s curatorial approach supports this season’s exploration of masculinity, memory, and maternal influence. This mentorship forms part of Banana Club’s commitment to collaborative learning between artists and cultural workers.
The residency will culminate in a solo showcase at RMB Latitudes Art Fair in May 2025, presented by Banana Club.
Photography by Saigo The Editor
Banana Emoji 