VUYILE VOYIYA 1961-2024

Michaelis is deeply saddened by the untimely passing of friend, colleague, and fellow artist, Vuyile Voyiya. Vuyile passed away on Tuesday 14 May after a brief illness. He worked at the school for many years as a part-time lecturer in printmaking and drawing and was currently engaged in first year teaching.

He was born in Cape Town and worked at the Community Arts Project in the early 1980s. He enrolled for a BAFA at Michaelis in 1986, studying sculpture and printmaking, and later going on to complete an honours in art history at UCT.  He worked as the education officer at the Iziko SA National Gallery for more than ten years,  and produced the well-known documentary film “The Luggage is still labeled: Blackness in South African art” in 2003 with Julie McGee. He was an accomplished artist, specialising in printmaking. His large-scale black and white linocuts of figures suspended in space and motion have been shown throughout the world, notably at MOMA, the Sydney Biennale and the Philadelphia Art Museum. The works were often suggestive of vulnerable figures, caught in the search light, and subject to psychological and physical intimidation. Their skilful, economical cutting and eloquent sense of form have been a measure for many printmakers.

Vuyile cared deeply for his students. Colleagues remember him as a sensitive and subtle teacher, a gentle, kind man and a thoughtful, generous presence on our campus. He left an impression on all those who knew him, and his passing is a huge loss to the school and all those students who will not benefit from his instruction.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday 22 May between 12 and 2pm at the Iziko South African Museum. We invite you to celebrate the life of this extraordinary man.