Nelson Mandela

(South African, 1918–2013)

Nelson Mandela was a South African revolutionary political figure and activist. Universally praised for publicly spearheading opposition to apartheid, he became the country's first democratically elected president. During his tenure in prison, Mandela regularly encountered a few repeated scenes; the view from his cell window, the gym facilities, and the interment harbor where new prisoners would arrive. After his release, he translated these memories into a series of sketches and prints, each depicting symbolic and representational images of his life during incarceration. Born July 18, 1918, in Mvezo, South Africa, his works of art are appreciated as the culmination of a revolutionary figure’s creative output. Mandela died at 95 on December 5, 2013 in Houghton Estate, South Africa. Today, he is celebrated as a visionary leader and advocate for freedom and democracy across the globe.