Our Featured Artists

Meet Debbie Yazbek :

Debbie Yazbek is a celebrated South African photojournalist whose evocative imagery and unwavering social conscience have left an indelible mark on the nation's visual history. Born in Klerksdorp to Lebanese immigrant parents, she studied photography at Natal Technikon before honing her craft in the UK. In 1985, fueled by a deep sense of purpose, she returned to South Africa to chronicle the fight against Apartheid—eventually rising to the role of Chief Photographer at The Sunday Star. Yazbek’s lens has captured defining moments in the country’s journey, from the raw grief following Chris Hani’s assassination to the profound human toll of the AIDS epidemic. Her body of work stands as a powerful testament to courage, resilience, and the enduring role of photography in truth-telling.

Over the course of her distinguished career, Yazbek has amassed numerous accolades. She is the only woman to be named Press Photographer of the Year twice (1998 and 2003), and in 2002, she swept first place in both the Commonwealth Photographic Competition and the CNN African Journalist of the Year awards. In 2003, she made history as the first photographer—and first woman—to win the Nat Nakasa Award for Media Integrity. Her work has been featured internationally, including in AIDS awareness campaigns across Holland, Toronto, and Washington; at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali; and in the Control Arms Campaign exhibition by Oxfam in New York. In 2016, she published Empathy, a powerful photographic coffee table book exploring homelessness.

Meet Tinyiko Maluri :

Tinyiko Maluri is a South African mixed media artist, born in 1980 in the village of Bungeni, Limpopo, South Africa. He began exploring art at the age of 10, channeling his early curiosity into a lifelong pursuit. In 2013, Maluri enrolled at the renowned Artist Proof Studio, where he formally studied Fine Arts and Printmaking, completing his training in 2016. During this time, he also served as a drawing facilitator intern, deepening his engagement with both practice and pedagogy. Working primarily with charcoal and acrylic, Maluri's art is both intimate and universal, often grappling with themes of trauma, resilience, and the shared human condition. His work is recognized for its emotional depth and textural complexity. In 2024, Maluri gained international acclaim by receiving the Best Artist award at World Art Dubai, standing out among entrants from over 60 countries.

Meet Sizwe Ngingane :

Sizwe Ndingane is an award-winning photographer whose career spans over a decade of crafting compelling visual narratives for some of South Africa’s most prominent publications. His work has graced the pages of The Star, Pretoria News, The Times—where he served as Deputy Picture Editor—and The Sunday Times, where he held the distinguished role of Picture Editor.

Renowned for his ability to capture the soul of a subject, Sizwe’s photography goes beyond aesthetics—it tells stories that resonate deeply. As an independent contractor, he brings his exceptional skillset to a wide range of clients, including local and international agencies, corporate organizations, and government bodies. His creative lens has documented campaigns and collaborations for leading names such as Nestlé, Economic Freedom Fighters, Lira, City Press, French Embassy RSA, Sowetan, and Vuma Communications, among many others.

Sizwe Ndingane brings a rare blend of creativity, technical expertise, and journalistic integrity to every project he undertakes. With over a decade of experience in the fast-paced world of newspaper photography, he has developed a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of visual storytelling. His award-winning work demonstrates not only photographic excellence but also a powerful ability to capture emotion and meaning in every frame. A natural leader and collaborator, Sizwe has held editorial leadership roles—such as Deputy Picture Editor at The Times and Picture Editor at The Sunday Times—where he managed creative teams and delivered high-impact visual content under tight deadlines. His experience extends well beyond the newsroom, with an impressive track record as an independent contractor for local and international clients, including major brands, government departments, NGOs, and media agencies.