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South African artist leaves mark at VMFA

10/7/2014, 6 a.m.
A renowned South African artist has put her personal touch on the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ permanent collection.
Esther Mahlangu's paintings at VMFA Photo by Sandra Sellars

Esther Mahlangu, an artist-in-residence at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, used brushes made from chicken feathers to paint the two 9-by-15-foot murals, which now are part of VMFA’s permanent collection.

Photo by Sandra Sellars

Esther Mahlangu, an artist-in-residence at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, used brushes made from chicken feathers to paint the two 9-by-15-foot murals, which now are part of VMFA’s permanent collection.

A renowned South African artist has put her personal touch on the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts’ permanent collection.

VMFA commissioned Esther Mahlangu to create two large-scale paintings.

Ms. Mahlangu is known for adding global, contemporary context to mural painting, according to a VMFA news release.

She and her granddaughter Marriam, came to Richmond in early September, and spent most of the month working daily on their commission.

The paintings are now complete, displayed in Evans Court. They form a gateway to the museum’s African art gallery.

The 9-by-15-foot murals will be presented to VMFA patrons and the public Wednesday and Thursday. She also will talk about her work 6 p.m. Oct. 9 at VMFA’s Leslie Cheek Theater.