BIO
 
Born in Nelson Mandela Bay, a coastal city in the Republic of South Africa, to Gerald Mabengeza, a former political prisoner and Street Committee member of the African National Congress, and Isabella Mabengeza, a retired Matron of Dora Nginza hospital and present day AIDS counselor.
 
Survival under apartheid was only manageable due to my strong family structure. Their life teachings of the pursuit of excellence, respect for the sanctity of  life and humility continue to guide me. Without the incredible, against all odds sacrifices they made on my account, life would be unlivable. Their tremendous vision of a better life not only for me, but all South Africans (humanity at large), is the backbone of my inspiration.
 
I picked up a camera because I was determined to create concise and everlasting histories of the real black experience, our humanity.
The extent of the psychological impact of apartheid on our society has been devastating. My work represents the continuum of the African’s renascence and rehabilitation of our sense of selfhood. I am also appealing to mankind in general, despite my whole life’s experience of the evils of institutionalized separate development.
 
It is oppressive to see that the predominant depiction of the lives of Africans is one of poverty and degradation. This reality is not to be discounted; however i feel that the positive depictions are few and far between. My “line of sight” is characterized by pictorial perspectives that punctuate our significant history of oppression that has shaped the course of our lives till now, yet still we stand!
 
We the new generation  of all the people’s of the world, confidently stands united in our cause- the  restoration of humanity! The reality is that all cultures are relevant and we can all learn from each other.
 
Ultimately my objective is to depict optimism in the face of adversity- the triumph of the human spirit!
 
BRIEF RESUME
 
Ezra’s training, an intensive apprenticeship at the prestigious International Center of Photography founded by Cornell Capa began in 2002 when he moved to New York, where he is still currently a Teaching Assistant.
 
Since his successful inaugural solo exhibition opened in 2006 in New York, which was generously supported by the South African Consulate General in New York, Trace Magazine and the Bacardi Group USA, Ezra has been involved in several projects. He has pioneered collaboration between New York’s inner city underprivileged youth with youth in Soweto and the Eastern Cape, which also involved HIV art therapy. His work has been installed at recognized charities such as Shared Interest, All for Africa and the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement. He was selected as the inaugural artist to exhibit, for the launch of the South African Chamber of Commerce in America’s benefit gala at the esteemed Harvard Club in New York.
 
Most recently, Ezra’s work has been featured by the New York Foundation For the Arts, as one of the nations promising young immigrant artists and Luire (vol.81), Japan’s popular urban artist Magazine. He was also part of a select group of artists that participated in the prominent Art Focus for Obama exhibition held in New York and is currently in a group exhibition at the George and Leah Mckenna Museum in New Orleans, honoring the famous street portraiture of Jamel Shabazz.
 
 
 
 
 
© 2010 ezra mabengeza