Espoir Kennedy

David Beckham Portrait, 2004

Hand printed lithograph

 

DIMENSIONS:

Image Size: 14 H x 11 W in.

Paper Size: 19 H x 15 W in.

Frame Size: 22.75 H x 18.25 W x 1.5 D in.

Edition 17/20

 

Black wood frame

Espoir Vyizigiro Kennedy was born on the 15th of November 1976 in Bujumbura, Burundi. He studied at Complexe Scolaire Congolese (Burundi) graduating in 2001 with a diploma in biology and chemistry. In 1996, he began to paint hair salon posters and shop signs for local business people, as well as landscapes for the tourist market in Burundi. When war broke out his family fled the Burundi genocide and now lives in the Congo. In 2002 the artist moves to South Africa and settled in Durban, where he paints haircut banners and signs for South African salons. Kennedy customizes each of his banners according to who his clients want to feature on their salons. When one walks along the streets of Durban, one sees how a single immigrant can enhance and contribute to the identity of his adopted country in a very short while. His "commands" come from all over South Africa and his work can be seen on pavements from Johannesburg and Carolina to Umtata and Estcourt. Espoir Kennedy paints "because it is inside me, it is my life, a God-given talent" Popular culture and iconography inspire him. Television personalities, movie stars, soccer players, musicians, and politicians, as well as the simply stylish, are his preferred subjects. Text from art printsa