Andile Dyalvane is one of South Africa's foremost ceramic artists, born in 1978 in Ngobozana, a small village near Qobo-Qobo in the Eastern Cape. Guided by a deep spiritual connection to his Xhosa ancestors, Dyalvane's complex, large-scale ceramic artworks are a metaphorical vessel through which he seeks to honour his cultural traditions and share his journey of healing.

Andile Dyalvane is proud of being South African and this is something that is reflected in his work at each and every opportunity. Through his art, he is able to engage and respond to his cultural heritage. Specifically, clay offers Dyalvane the opportunity to create pieces that are both beautiful and functional. In ceramist Andile Dyalvane’s hands, that earth is sculpted into evocative vessels that reflect the connections that exist between humans and the land.    

A deep involvement with cultural context and vernacular ceramic traditions has underpinned Andile’s career. With his stoneware vessels, which range from 30 centimetres to 1.3 metres tall, he draws upon his Xhosa heritage and tells all manner of narratives. They are symbols imbued with meaning. Driven by a deep spiritual bond to his Xhosa heritage, the South African artist approaches his large-scale pieces as mediums for cultural preservation, celebration, and even communing with ancestors. As he says,“Art is a bridge to join what is fragmented or separated in the world.”

Images courtesy of Southern Guild