For Johannesburg-based visual artist Nomvula Millicent Hoko, art exists far beyond the walls of a gallery. It is a space where identity, spirituality, education, and community meet, creating opportunities for both personal transformation and collective growth.
As the founder of Canvasity, Nomvula has built a practice that extends beyond creating artwork. Through mentorship, curation, workshops, and arts administration, she is committed to helping emerging creatives develop both their artistic voices and the practical skills needed to build sustainable careers.
“My practice is an ongoing process of visual research and storytelling, it explores identity, transformation, and the histories we carry with us.”
Working primarily as a fine art printmaker, Nomvula has spent years refining her technical craft while exploring themes that bridge the physical and spiritual worlds. For her, printmaking is more than a medium, it is a language of endurance, memory, and transformation. The layered nature of the process allows her to investigate ideas around identity, history, and the marks people leave on one another over time. That philosophy was central to her acclaimed solo exhibition, Woman in Process, which explored womanhood, spirituality, and personal growth through deeply reflective visual narratives.
While her artistic practice continues to evolve, education remains equally important. Having worked as an educator, facilitator, and mentor, Nomvula believes artists thrive when they are supported by strong creative communities rather than working in isolation.
Through Canvasity, she creates spaces where emerging artists can access mentorship, develop technical skills, and better understand the business of art. For her, empowering creatives means equipping them with both creative confidence and practical knowledge.
Looking ahead, Nomvula hopes to leave a lasting impact on South Africa’s creative landscape by making art more accessible beyond traditional gallery spaces. Her long-term vision includes establishing a Black-owned gallery and printmaking school dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and nurturing Black artistic expression for future generations.
Whether she is creating prints, curating exhibitions, or mentoring the next generation, Nomvula’s work is united by one purpose: building a creative future where art becomes a bridge between people, history, and possibility.