Born in 1941 in Manjacaze, Mozambique
Lives and works in Maputo, Mozambique
The son of farmers, Estevão Mucavele left for the mines of South Africa in 1957 at the age of 16, seeking a better life. A year later, he left the mines and found work as a cleaner in an art gallery in Johannesburg. In 1966, he moved to Cape Town, where he worked as a concierge—a job that left him ample free time, which he devoted to painting. Two years later, he held his first exhibition.
Mucavele’s works generally depict landscapes—those he had seen in his travels between Mozambique and South Africa, including mines and the sea. His painting reflects a union between artist and nature, capturing the colors and forms of the Karoo desert, the mountains of Cape Town (Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, Signal Hill), and the Cape of Good Hope. Described by Malangatana, a great figure in Mozambican art, as “uncompromising,” Mucavele’s paintings captivate viewers and establish him as a uniquely remarkable artist.