1. Overview
Nontsikelelo Mutiti is a highly acclaimed graphic designer, artist, and educator whose work profoundly explores Black cultures and social issues. Her practice, rooted in web design, video art, printmaking, and book art, frequently incorporates the social and aesthetic dimensions of hair braiding. Mutiti is particularly interested in the nuanced differences among diverse Black cultures, reflecting a commitment to fostering understanding and challenging Eurocentric design canons. A significant aspect of her artistic output includes printed materials for the Black Lives Matter movement, highlighting her engagement with contemporary social justice. Since 2022, she has held a prominent academic position as the Director of Graduate Studies in Graphic Design at the Yale School of Art, demonstrating her influence in shaping future generations of designers.
2. Early Life and Education
Nontsikelelo Mutiti was born on August 31, 1982, in Harare, Zimbabwe. Her foundational art education began in her home country, where she graduated from the Zimbabwe Institute of Vigital Arts with a diploma in multimedia art in 2007. Furthering her studies, Mutiti pursued a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Graphic Design from the prestigious Yale School of Art, completing her postgraduate education in 2012.
3. Career
Nontsikelelo Mutiti's career spans significant roles in academia, artistic collaborations, and publishing, all reflecting her dedication to art, design, and cultural advocacy.
3.1. Academic Career and Teaching
Mutiti has established herself as a leading figure in design education. In June 2022, she was appointed as the Director of Graduate Studies in Graphic Design at Yale University, succeeding Professor Sheila Levrant de Bretteville, who held the position for thirty-two years. This appointment made Mutiti the third director of Yale's renowned graduate graphic design program. Prior to her tenure at Yale, Mutiti served as an assistant professor in the Graphic Design department at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) from 2017 to 2022. She also taught at Purchase College before joining VCU.
3.2. Collaborations and Publishing
Mutiti is a proactive force in fostering artistic and literary communities through various collaborative initiatives. She is a co-founder of the Zimbabwe Cultural Centre in Detroit, an organization dedicated to encouraging collaboration and exchange between artists in Detroit and Zimbabwe.
Alongside Tinashe Mushakavanhu, Mutiti co-founded Black Chalk & Co, a distinctive creative agency and publishing imprint. This venture aims to amplify voices and narratives, particularly from Zimbabwe. Furthermore, Mutiti and Mushakavanhu jointly lead Reading Zimbabwe, a vital digital archive established in late 2016. As the artistic director and co-founder of Reading Zimbabwe, Mutiti has played a crucial role in curating and making Zimbabwean literature accessible, ensuring the preservation and dissemination of the nation's diverse stories.
4. Artistic Work and Themes
Nontsikelelo Mutiti's artistic practice is characterized by a deep engagement with cultural identity and social commentary, primarily through her investigation into specific Black cultural practices.
4.1. Core Artistic Themes and Approach
Mutiti is widely recognized for her artistic exploration of the technical crafts and social practices surrounding hair braiding and self-fashioning within the African diaspora. Her work delves into the nuanced differences among various Black cultures, reflecting a broader interest in identity, community, and the aesthetics embedded in everyday life. For instance, in her 2014 exhibition titled "Ruka (To braid/ to knit/ to weave)" at Recess Art, Mutiti meticulously recreated the environment of an African hair braiding salon. Drawing inspiration from spaces commonly found in cities like New York City or Harare, she included aesthetic markers such as walls painted in vibrant acid green or bright orange, magazine cut-outs of celebrities, hair product models, flyers and posters from evangelical churches, and the ubiquitous small black television set on top of a cabinet playing Nollywood movies. This focus extends beyond mere aesthetics to encompass the forms of community, storytelling, and exchange that occur within such salons. In 2015, as part of Performa, Mutiti collaborated with Chimurenga and Pan African Space Station to establish a functional pop-up salon. This unique space hosted a series of conversations and readings, including excerpts from stories directly addressing hair crafts, such as Tendai Huchu's The Hairdresser of Harare, works by Dambudzo Marechera, and Binyavanga Wainaina's One Day I Will Write About This Place.
4.2. Major Works by Medium
Mutiti's diverse artistic output is channeled through various mediums, showcasing her versatility and innovative approach.
4.2.1. Print Works
Her significant print-based art and design projects often engage with social justice themes. Key works include:
- A-A-A (folded posters, 2012)
- Thread (screen print on linoleum tiles, 2012-2014)
- African Hair Braiding Salon Reader (spiral bound booklet, laser print, 2014)
- The Laundromat Project (2014)
- RIP Kiki (2016)
- Requiem (2016)
- How to Wear Cloth (folded posters, fabric, paper, letterpress, 2016)
- Bootleg This (book cloth, book board, laser printed booklet, compact disk, 2016)
- 1960 Free (risograph and laser printing, spiral bound, 2016)
- Black Women Artists for Black Lives Matter (BWAforBLM) (identity, banner, and ephemera, 2016)
4.2.2. Video Works
Mutiti's video art projects explore narrative and artistic expression through motion. Notable works include:
- Unbreakable (2011)
- Pain Revisited Excerpt (2015)
- Just Keep Swimming (2016)
4.2.3. Web Design Works
Her digital and web design projects reflect an innovative approach to online platforms and user experience. Core works include:
- Laundromat Project (website redesign, 2014)
- Braiding Braiding (2015)
- Reading Zimbabwe (2016)
5. Exhibitions
Nontsikelelo Mutiti's work has been featured in numerous prominent exhibitions at esteemed art institutions. Major exhibitions where her work has been showcased include:
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City (2017)
- We Buy Gold in Brooklyn, New York
- Whitney Museum in New York (2016)
- Studio Museum in Harlem (2015)
- Ruka (To Braid/ to knit/ to weave) at Recess Art (2014)
- Edwin Gallery in Michigan
- Yale's Davenport Art Gallery
- Syracuse University
6. Awards and Residencies
Mutiti has received several prestigious awards, fellowships, and artist residencies acknowledging her significant contributions to the art world and her emerging influence. These include:
- Berlin Artist Program, BKP (2021)
- Soros Arts Fellowship, Open Society Foundations (2019)
- Joan Mitchell Foundation Emerging Artist Grant (2015)
- Alice Kimball English Traveling Fellowship (2012)
- Laundromat Project Create Change Fellow (2012)
- Artist in Residence at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit
- Artist in Residence at Recess Art
7. Legacy and Impact
Nontsikelelo Mutiti's work has had a significant influence on both the art and design fields and the broader discourse surrounding Black cultural narratives.
7.1. Contributions to Art and Design Education
As the Director of Graduate Studies in Graphic Design at Yale University, Mutiti holds a pivotal position in shaping the future of design education. Her leadership and pedagogical approach directly influence emerging designers, fostering critical thinking and diverse perspectives within the discipline. Her tenure as an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University also allowed her to impart her expertise and innovative approaches to a new generation of artists and designers.
7.2. Influence on Black Cultural Narratives
Mutiti's artistic and design work significantly contributes to and shapes the discourse surrounding Black identity, culture, and social issues. By focusing on practices like hair braiding, she not only elevates an often-overlooked cultural tradition to high art but also highlights its social and political dimensions. Her keen interest in the nuanced differences within Black cultures fosters a more complex and representative understanding of Black experiences, moving beyond monolithic portrayals. Through her active engagement with movements like Black Lives Matter and her initiatives like Reading Zimbabwe, Mutiti emphasizes her role in advocating for cultural representation, social equity, and a deeper appreciation of the rich tapestry of Black heritage.
8. Personal Life
Nontsikelelo Mutiti currently divides her time between and works in New York City and Richmond, Virginia.