Lakwena Maciver

Lecture in Progress - “I thought I’d do something I believed in, rather than chasing cash”

• "My dad was often unemployed, so money was always an issue. I think he was the one who made me want to be a millionaire. But then I realised that I could work as hard as I liked, and potentially still not get a job, so I thought I’d just do something I actually believed in, rather than chasing the cash. Another point is that my work was kind of about survival. Growing up as a minority looking for a way to express and assert myself, but being quite shy, art arose as the way for me to do that."

• "One of my favourite books is all about the work of Emory Douglas – who worked as Minister of Culture for the Black Panthers. What a legend. It’s about him, but it’s also about the Black Panthers as a whole – a movement that was trying to influence culture, to shape culture, by any means necessary, from a beautiful poster to a black beret. I find that very exciting. This stuff actually meant something; the emphasis was on reshaping the mind of a people and a whole society. It wasn’t just about style, and it wasn’t popular. It was radical."

Huck Magazine - Lakwena Maciver explores faith and mythology through electric colours and patterns

• "My mum and dad were both quite political. My mum used to do protest marches in London and I remember making protest signs and posters for her, and using a lot of text. That helped me understand the importance of words and how much power they have."

They Made This London
G-Irl Interview
Design Indaba - Lakwena Maciver: A little bit of Africa on every street
Fused Magazine
Metal - The Power of a Girl