Madi Phala (1955 – 2007)

Madi Phala

(1955 – 2007)

Madi Phala was born in 1955 in Payneville Township in Springs. In 1975 Phala founded the Bayajula Group of the Arts. In 1981-1986 he worked as the S.A.B.C. Model Builder, Scenic Painter and effects maker. Phala also taught Art at Polokegong Primary School in Vosloorus, at the Fred Habedi Primary School in Kwa-Thema, at Muzomsha Primary in Kwa Thema and the Mbira School of Music and Art. Yet in 1988 he began working as a full time artist. In 1992 till 1998 Phala founded and ran the Arts Enhancement Programme. It was a programme to teach and exhibit young and promising artists in Ekurhuleni. During this period Phala taught children in his garage. In 2005 he took part in a residency at The Bag Factory in Johannesburg

Phala has also participated in workshops such as; 

The Thupelo Workshops (1985-1992), Triangle workshop, USA (1992) Residency Greatmore Studios, Cape Town (2004-05); Print Making – a collaborative workshops – with Truworths – Robert Robson, Hardground Printmakers, BASA; Life drawing was done with Jill Trappler

Exhibitions

2005 Participated in the group exhibition “Encompass” at the Cape Gallery; Joint exhibition with Nkoali Nawa – exhibition at the Renault Showroom, Claremont, Cape Town; One man show at AVA, Cape Town; SADC Artists at Thapong, Gaborone, Botswana 
2004 10 years of Democracy Renaissance project with Truworths, Hardground, BASA, Sanlam Cape Gallery; One man show at AVA, Cape Town; 3 man show at Greatmore Studios, Cape Town following a residency at Greatmore Studios.
1992 Three Man Show at Fuba Gallery
1982 Group Exhibition at Shell House, JHB; Group Exhibition at Goodman Gallery
1979 Group Exhibition Germiston Town Council; Phala also took part in a group show in France (Benefit for Gerard Sekoto this was a joint venture to assist the artist financially by means of contributing work for auctioning)