Fine art gourd artist, Omphile Makubate is completely self taught with no history of Gourd Art in her family,she started off as a Quilt artist later transforming her quilting skill in to prints. Since childhood, art has always held an integral role in her life, yet none of her past creative experiences would compare with the love affair she would eventually undertake with gourds. Gourds presented Makubate with an infinite number of shapes, a diversity of sizes, as well as complex curves, smooth surfaces and a golden surface glow, which have all challenged her imagination. She realized that working with such an organic object, had it's own unique soul, providing uncharted creative posssibilities and potentials. She began using fine art gourd techniques such as;cutting, carving, burning, painting, embellishing, and weaving on her gourds. Over time, Makubate has also employed many new techniques on her gourds,mostly self taught and a few self invented, such as the use of wax applications and sculptural totem work. Using pyroengraving, painting, carving, and metal leaf applications, as a center, Makubate couples her creative intellect with processes from collage work, photography and printmaking to further guide her artistic voice.

Finding her inspiration in quiet thoughts, random reflections, and charming epiphanies, an individual fine art gourd by Makubate, might offer the viewer the timelessness of a Navajo rug, a beautiful creature of the deep Okavango river, or some mysterious iconography of Setswana culture. Each piece is an attempt to capture a moment in the mind's eye through a splash of color, the smoothness of a wind polished rock, or a flash of a bird's feather. Makubate also finds her inspiration in the trueness of nature's beauty, never forgetting how fragile our "earth" home is, but also honoring it's strength and resilience. Along the path of Makubate's creative journey, she discovered the art of working in both traditional and non traditional ways;she offers delicate, realistic prints and animal print collage work, mounted on board and canvas. Recently, Makubate has set up a fine art gourd studio; to explore the world of painting and printing. Her background in gourd design work has successfully translated to her print work. Eventually, Makubate's goal is to offer both fine art gourds and an extended line of art prints, celebrating the exciting space between the heart and soul of human connectedness with nature, as well as with each other.

Now showing in her Craft shop,Leloba Craftshop and other local Curio shops in Maun and Kasane tourist towns, Makubate's work has seen the walls of Nhabe Museum .Her work is found in collector's homes and businesses, both nationally and internationally.

"It has been such a long and rewarding journey, this wonderful art path of mine. Along the way I have discovered myself, acquired life long friends, branched out to new art processes and learned to look at life's never ending connections and reconnections. It has taught me to also value the "now" moments of my world that constantly bring me so many delights and surprises. There is not a moment in my life that holds a whisper of boredom!" Omphile Makubate, fine art gourd artist whose work reflects her passion for colour, texture and dimension. She has had a lifelong interest in textiles, applique and quilting .This and her awareness of being an African artist give her work its particular character.
Occupation: Artist
Medium: Gourd Art
Born: Selebi-Phikwe, Botswana; 1986
Education Management college of Southern Africa, Durban, South Africa
2012 B.B.A. (Bachelor of Business Administration)

Exhibitions
2015 1st Southern African Development Committee Military Exhibition, Maun Botswana
2015 3rd annual National Women Exposition ,Francistown, Botswana
2015 Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture Exhibition, Maun, Botswana
2015 10th International Consumer Fair ,Gaborone ,Botswana
Apart from her art commitments she has been involved in programs aimed at teaching local women appliqué, eco printing, embroidery and natural fabric dyeing skills in her own home. She is also involved in teaching patchwork and quilting to a group of young women in Maun.
2016-Enhancing Professionalism in Art Work shop-Botswana Society For The Arts in collaboration with European Union
2016-Top 50 Entreprenuer in all of Africa in Casablanca Morocco
2016-Top 37 finalist African Entreprenuership Award-BMCE Bank of Africa
2016-Co-Founder of Botswana Association For Women Artists(BAFWA)

Awards
2016-Top 50 Entreprenuer-African Entreprenuership Award
2016-Top 37 Finalist-AEAward-BMCE Bank of Africa

Gender
Female

Personal Information
The Mmirwa woman Gourd Artist is currently based in Selibe Phikwe.The mother of one Larona Palesa Makubate is also the last born daughter of Gasekgale Leticia Makubate.Originally from Bobonong,she was Born in Selibe Phikwe and bred in Lobatse where she spent most of her childhood and adult life.

Por qué estoy en Couchsurfing

To make friends from all over the the world and exchange culture...

Música, películas y libros

Pop and RnB

Algo increíble que he hecho

Nothing beats giving to the under priviledged

Enseña, aprende, comparte

i want to share my Gourd art skills and learn what my guests know and the process exchange culture

Qué puedo ofrecer a los anfitriones

I can share my culture and learn theirs at the same time

Países que he visitado

Morocco

Países en los que he vivido

Botswana