THE REALISTICALLY UNREAL ARTISTRY OF NATHI TEMBE
By Thandeka Khoza
As Eswatini’s art scene steadily gains international recognition, artists like Nkosinathi “Nathi Jay” Tembe are leading the charge. A self-taught sketch artist and painter, Tembe’s work blends lifelike realism with surrealist elements, producing pieces that not only turn heads globally but also raise the bar within the fine arts world.
Tembe discovered his passion early. As a teenager, he would draw for fun—faces, cars, and celebrities like T-Pain from magazine clippings. “I remember in Form One, I did this terrible drawing of T-Pain,” he laughs. But that early experimentation laid the foundation for his signature style: surrealist realism. Over time, his fascination with the bizarre and unexpected began to shape his art. “Weird is what I’ve always liked doing,” he says. “I mix figurative stuff with something that doesn’t exist… like a face with too many eyes or patterns that don’t quite make sense.”
This blend of realism and the abstract has evolved into what’s now recognized as his distinctive Figurative Surrealist style. It’s a striking balance—hyper-detailed, often photo-realistic images that somehow feel dreamlike or otherworldly.
Despite his impressive talent, Tembe credits his success not to innate ability but to perseverance and discipline. “Learning a skill is hard,” he says. “No one starts good. It’s impossible! In art… there’s no such thing as talent. It’s all skill.” He references the well-known idea that it takes 10,000 hours to master something, emphasizing that constant repetition and learning are key.
That work ethic has paid off. Tembe is now a resident artist at Yebo Gallery in Ezulwini, one of Eswatini’s most respected galleries. Through this platform, his work has reached international collectors and has taken him abroad—most notably to Germany, where he completed a three-month residency with the Leipzig International Art Program.
Beyond creating, Tembe is now committed to giving back. He teaches at Yini Loku, an independent creative space in Mbabane, helping other aspiring artists develop their craft. He sees this as a crucial step in building Eswatini’s art industry. “Being a creative here is looked down upon,” he says frankly. “We’re overcoming it slowly… thank God the Internet exists! We’re learning how to look for things out there.”
Tembe believes that with persistence, exposure, and support, more Swazi artists can thrive—locally and globally. “We can still build skill locally, push ourselves out there… and hopefully those same people will come back and rebuild.”
Through stunning visuals and a grounded philosophy, Nathi Tembe continues to prove that world-class art can emerge from anywhere—so long as there's passion, patience, and pencil in hand.
THE REALISTICALLY UNREAL ARTISTRY OF NATHI TEMBE
By Thandeka Khoza
As Eswatini’s art scene steadily gains international recognition, artists like Nkosinathi “Nathi Jay” Tembe are leading the charge. A self-taught sketch artist and painter, Tembe’s work blends lifelike realism with surrealist elements, producing pieces that not only turn heads globally but also raise the bar within the fine arts world.
Tembe discovered his passion early. As a teenager, he would draw for fun—faces, cars, and celebrities like T-Pain from magazine clippings. “I remember in Form One, I did this terrible drawing of T-Pain,” he laughs. But that early experimentation laid the foundation for his signature style: surrealist realism. Over time, his fascination with the bizarre and unexpected began to shape his art. “Weird is what I’ve always liked doing,” he says. “I mix figurative stuff with something that doesn’t exist… like a face with too many eyes or patterns that don’t quite make sense.”
This blend of realism and the abstract has evolved into what’s now recognized as his distinctive Figurative Surrealist style. It’s a striking balance—hyper-detailed, often photo-realistic images that somehow feel dreamlike or otherworldly.
Despite his impressive talent, Tembe credits his success not to innate ability but to perseverance and discipline. “Learning a skill is hard,” he says. “No one starts good. It’s impossible! In art… there’s no such thing as talent. It’s all skill.” He references the well-known idea that it takes 10,000 hours to master something, emphasizing that constant repetition and learning are key.
That work ethic has paid off. Tembe is now a resident artist at Yebo Gallery in Ezulwini, one of Eswatini’s most respected galleries. Through this platform, his work has reached international collectors and has taken him abroad—most notably to Germany, where he completed a three-month residency with the Leipzig International Art Program.
Beyond creating, Tembe is now committed to giving back. He teaches at Yini Loku, an independent creative space in Mbabane, helping other aspiring artists develop their craft. He sees this as a crucial step in building Eswatini’s art industry. “Being a creative here is looked down upon,” he says frankly. “We’re overcoming it slowly… thank God the Internet exists! We’re learning how to look for things out there.”
Tembe believes that with persistence, exposure, and support, more Swazi artists can thrive—locally and globally. “We can still build skill locally, push ourselves out there… and hopefully those same people will come back and rebuild.”
Through stunning visuals and a grounded philosophy, Nathi Tembe continues to prove that world-class art can emerge from anywhere—so long as there's passion, patience, and pencil in hand.
Music
TV
French
Portuguese