Kelebogile Marope has been named the winner of the 2026 FNB Art Prize, becoming the first Botswana artist to receive the prestigious award
Botswana artist Kelebogile Marope has been announced as the recipient of the 2026 FNB Art Prize, marking a significant moment for Botswana’s contemporary art scene and African art more broadly.
The announcement was made by FNB Art Joburg, Africa’s leading and longest-running contemporary art fair, ahead of its 19th edition. The FNB Art Prize forms part of the fair’s long-term commitment to supporting and developing contemporary African artists beyond the annual art fair.
Marope was selected by a 2026 jury comprising Kim Kandan, Fair Manager and FNB Art Joburg Representative; curator Mike Mavura; and interior designer and art collector Véronique Savigné.
Kelebogile Marope recognised for her contemporary sculpture
In announcing the decision, the jury praised Marope’s contribution to contemporary African sculpture, highlighting her technical skill, precision and distinctive approach to the medium.
The jury noted that Marope has claimed a traditionally male-dominated medium as her own, while pushing the boundaries of sculpture through a practice that is both deeply rooted in place and boldly imaginative. Her work’s distinctive material language and fresh perspective were also singled out as key reasons for her selection.
Marope works across sculpture, drawing and mixed media, exploring the relationship between memory, identity and the spaces people inhabit. Her practice draws inspiration from domestic environments and everyday materials, examining how ordinary objects, surfaces and architectural details can become repositories of lived experience.
Through a careful, process-led approach, Marope considers the rituals of daily life and how they influence ideas of home, belonging and collective memory.
First Botswana artist to win the FNB Art Prize
Born in Ramotswa, Botswana, Marope has developed an increasingly recognised multidisciplinary practice across Botswana and South Africa.
She completed a Bachelor of Fine Art before obtaining a Master of Fine Art from Rhodes University. Her selection as the 2026 FNB Art Prize winner represents a major milestone in her career and makes her the first artist from Botswana to receive the FNB Art Prize.
Her achievement also highlights the growing visibility of Botswana’s contemporary art scene within the broader African and international art landscape.
“Each year, the FNB Art Prize recognises an artist whose practice expands the conversations shaping contemporary African art,” said Mandla Sibeko, director of FNB Art Joburg. “Kelebogile’s work demonstrates a remarkable sensitivity to material, memory and lived experience, transforming the everyday into something profoundly resonant.”
Sibeko added that Marope’s recognition reflects the depth of artistic excellence emerging across the continent and reinforces FNB Art Joburg’s commitment to championing artists whose work deserves greater visibility.
FNB Art Joburg continues to support African artists
FNB Chief Marketing Officer Linda Kachingwe-Sisya congratulated Marope on receiving the award, describing her work as deeply personal while also resonating with universal themes of place, memory and connection.
Kachingwe-Sisya said the achievement reflects both Marope’s exceptional talent and the growing strength, diversity and global relevance of contemporary African creativity.
“For almost two decades, our partnership with Art Joburg has been rooted in a commitment to nurturing and elevating African talent,” Kachingwe-Sisya said. “Kelebogile’s recognition is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary creative potential that exists across our continent.”
The FNB Art Prize has become an important platform for recognising artists and supporting the development of contemporary African art. Previous recipients include Thato Toeba, Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude, Lindokuhle Sobekwa, Dada Khanyisa, Wycliffe Mundopa, Lady Skollie, Bronwyn Katz, Haroon Gunn-Salie, Peju Alatise, Nolan Oswald Dennis, Turiya Magadlela, Portia Zvavahera, Nelisiwe Xaba, Mocke J van Veuren, Kudzanai Chiurai and Cedric Nunn.
For FNB, the partnership with Art Joburg is part of a broader investment in Africa’s creative ecosystem. The organisation says its support is focused on creating meaningful opportunities for artists to be discovered, recognised and celebrated, while helping build a more sustainable contemporary art sector across the continent.
Kelebogile Marope to receive solo exhibition in Johannesburg
As the 2026 FNB Art Prize winner, Marope will receive a cash prize as well as a solo exhibition at the Johannesburg Art Gallery in 2027.
The Johannesburg Art Gallery is home to one of the continent’s most significant art collections, making the upcoming exhibition an important opportunity for Marope to introduce her work to an even wider audience.
Her win represents more than an individual career achievement. As the first Botswana artist to receive the FNB Art Prize, Marope’s recognition brings increased attention to Botswana’s contemporary artists while reinforcing the importance of creating platforms for diverse African artistic voices.
The 2026 FNB Art Prize ultimately reflects FNB Art Joburg’s ongoing commitment to strengthening Africa’s contemporary art ecosystem, supporting sustainable artistic careers and expanding the narratives represented within the global cultural landscape.
For more information about FNB Art Joburg, visit the official FNB Art Joburg website or follow @FNBArtJoburg on social media.
