Meet Stephanie Kwaghe

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stephanie Kwaghe. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stephanie below.

Stephanie , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

With time, you learned that purpose doesn’t always arrive with clarity sometimes, it’s something you grow into. I’ve always been drawn to art, even as a child. I remember watching my art teacher create and feeling completely fascinated, that experience deepened my connection to art, he made it feel alive, like something that could become part of who I was. With time, that early spark followed me all the way into university, where I decided to truly explore it.
I think I knew it was my purpose the moment I realized that even if it never paid my bills, I’d still do it. There’s something powerful about being able to connect with people I’ve never met and seeing how my work can shift the way they think or feel. That connection that quiet conversation between the viewer and my art is part of what keeps me coming back.
Funny enough, I actually wanted to study something entirely different at first. But somehow, I found myself right where I was meant to be. Along the way, I heard a lot of opinions people telling me how I should create, what my work should look like, or that I needed to fit into a certain style. At one point, I had to learn to shut those voices out and trust myself.
It wasn’t easy, because when you hear something long enough, it starts to take root. The truth is, I had to constantly remind myself that I could get where I wanted to go if I just took it one step at a time. That simple truth has carried me through every phase of my journey
patience, faith, and the courage to keep creating my own way.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My work is rooted in storytelling I use painting and mixed media to explore memory, emotion, and identity. I’m drawn to the spaces between what we say and what we feel, and I try to give form to those quiet, often overlooked moments that shape who we are.

What excites me most about creating is how art connects people in ways words sometimes can’t. Every piece begins as something personal a thought, a memory, or even a question but when it’s out in the world, it starts to live a new life through the people who experience it. That exchange, that silent conversation between me and the viewer, is something I never get tired of.

I’m particularly interested in how materials can carry meaning how texture, layering, and even fragments of fabric can tell stories of identity and resilience. My work often mirrors the beauty and fragility of being human, and I love when people can see themselves reflected in it, even in ways I never intended.

Right now, I’m focused on expanding my practice, building new collections that explore transformation and belonging, and participating in exhibitions that allow me to share my voice on a broader scale. Each project feels like a new chapter a way to connect, to challenge, and to keep growing through my art.

At its core, I’ll say my brand is about vulnerability, honesty and connection. I want people to feel seen to find a piece of their own story in my work and walk away feeling a little more understood and heard.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

I know consistency will always top the charts, but consistency without self-awareness and drive can easily lead to a mundane practice. You have to know why you’re doing what you’re doing, not just keep doing it for the sake of movement.

Another important lesson I’ve learned is that having a style doesn’t mean you can’t evolve as an artist. I recently watched a clip where Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya explained the difference between being a contemporary artist and a temporary one. The central idea was that to remain contemporary, evolution is non-negotiable. The moment you stay fixed in one style, without allowing any form of growth or “spice,” you risk becoming temporary.

That struck a chord with me because so often, creatives are told to “stick to one style” as a marker of being a “good artist”. But what’s rarely discussed is how to evolve while still staying true to your identity and voice. Growth doesn’t mean losing yourself it means expanding the ways in which you express who you are.

One thing I always say to myself is to let my why influence my how. That way, you can stay true to your vision no matter the noise around you. I often think about the life cycle of a butterfly it doesn’t remain an egg. It evolves into a caterpillar, then a chrysalis, and finally, a butterfly. Through all that change, it never stops being what it was meant to be. A butterfly.

That’s how life and creativity work. You’ll evolve, you’ll be shaped by experiences, but that doesn’t take away from who you are, it refines it. Once you understand that, your path becomes a little clearer and your journey a lot lighter.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

Letting me choose my part, with proper guidance of course. Lol😌

Contact Info:

• Instagram: kwaghe_steph
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-kwaghe-07b703270?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Image Credits

timmy_okanlawon @Instagram