Thomas Trevor (Tommy) Motswai

Born: 27 May 1963
Updated: 23 Aug 2019

Summary

South African artist

Tommy Motswai was born on 27 May 1963 in Johannesburg. Although he was born deaf he ultimately became a prolific and successful artist portraying the world around him on paper with pastels. In his own words, “I like to draw happy people doing ordinary things like travelling on buses, talking and singing, in places I know well, like Soweto.”

How we know this

01Sack, S. (1988). The Neglected Tradition, Johannesburg: Johannesburg Art Gallery.
02Johannesburg Art Foundation closure
03Thomas Motswai: A timeline

Last updated · 23 Aug 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, February 17). Thomas Trevor (Tommy) Motswai. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/B-0008675

South African History Online (2011) 'Thomas Trevor (Tommy) Motswai', South African History Online, 17 February. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/B-0008675 (Accessed: 20 October 2026).

South African History Online, Thomas Trevor (Tommy) Motswai [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/B-0008675, (accessed 20 October 2026).

"Thomas Trevor (Tommy) Motswai." South African History Online, 17 Feb. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/B-0008675. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "Thomas Trevor (Tommy) Motswai." South African History Online. February 17, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/B-0008675.