Cyprian Mpho Shilakoe was born on 3 August 1946 in Barberton, Eastern Transvaal. Shilakoe spent his childhood on an isolated mission station at Buchbeesreich in the Transvaal.

From 1968 to 1970 he was a pupil at Rorke's Drift and studied under Azaria Mbatha. In 1970 he settled at a Lutheran mission station near Roodepoort where he had a studio. He had a close working relationship with Dan Rakgoathe and produced wooden sculpture and etchings.

Shilakoe died in a motorcar accident in September 1972.

Exhibitions:

1968: DAM (Rorke's Drift-group).

1969: DAM (Art SA Today).

1970: Goodman Gallery (group).

1971: Goodman Gallery (solo).

Preston, UK (three-person exhibition with Winston Saoli and Leonard Matsoso).

Germany; Sweden; Denmark; Italy; USA

1972: University of California, USA (African Art).

Goodman Gallery (SA Graphics 1972).

1973: Goodman Gallery (Memorial Exhibition).

Goodman Gallery (Third Festival of SA Graphics).

1975: Goodman Gallery (SA Sculpture Exhibition).

1976: Canberra, Australia (SAArt- Canberra Week).

Brooklyn Museum and Public Library, New York, USA

(Black SA Contemporary Graphics).

1977-9: West Germany - tour (SA Graphic Art).

1979: SANG(SA Print makers).

1981: Jabulani Standard Bank, Soweto (Black Art Today).

1986: Alliance Francaise, Pretoria (Historical Perspective of Black Art in SA).

1987: TAG (Rorke's Drift Fine Art School in Retrospect).

SANG (Contemporary SA Prints and Drawings).

Awards:

1972: University of California, USA, African Art Exhibition (first prize for graphic art).

Collections:

DAMJAG; King George VI; Sandton Town Council; SANG; UZ.

References

• Sack, S. (1988). The Neglected Tradition, Johannesburg: Johannesburg Art Gallery.
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