South African Artist Nelson Makamo’s Painting is the Cover of TIME’s Latest Optimists Issue

TIME magazine has shared the cover for their latest issue. One of the issue’s two covers features actress Cicely Tyson, and the second one features a painting by popular South African painter Nelson Makamo. The portrait, titled Visions of a limitless future, was revealed on Thursday by the magazine as part of the second “optimists issue.”

Makamo, is a 36-year-old, Johannesburg based artist who was born in Limpopo and his work has been featured in various locations around the world. The seasoned and award-winning fine artist, told TIME Magazine e had never produced a magazine cover before in his career.

It scared me because, even though I’ve been working for a long time, it felt like a debut,” said Makamo, as he felt this painting would introduce his work to a new international audience.

Makamo says he knew he wanted a painting of a child for the cover because it’s “something everyone can relate to.”

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"Art is worthy of our interrogation and is in fact an antidote for our times," writes @ava, guest-editor of @time’s second special issue devoted to #optimism. "In the issue, we celebrate and suggest ways that one can find inspiration in our present moment through the work of artists who carve a path for us all. Whether a filmmaker or a photographer, an author or an actress, a poet or a painter, these pages are filled with people who use art as a weapon for dynamic optimism." See the full Optimists issue, on 34 people changing how we see our world, at the link in bio. Photograph by @djenebaaduayom for TIME; Painting by @nelsonmakamo for TIME; Video by @arpane; animation by @brobeldesign

A post shared by TIME (@time) on Feb 7, 2019 at 4:51am PST

Africa be proud of your son @nelsonmakamo @TIME pic.twitter.com/IbCkXlZuSr

— Black Coffee (@RealBlackCoffee) February 7, 2019

The current issue of TIME is one of many previous ones themed “Optimists,” as it sheds the light on 34 people who are changing how we see the world. The issue is guest-edited by filmmaker Ava DuVernay. She has been in touch with Makamo since 2017. Their relationship started when she bought a piece by Makamo at an auction. In December, she visited Makamo’s studio and bought another piece from him.

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What a thrill to visit the studio of one of my favorite artists, @NelsonMakamo. An honor, in fact. I can’t wait to welcome this dignified lady into my home. Thank you for introducing me to her, Nelson. And for your gorgeous vision of us. Your work makes me think of our joy and our grace, our triumph and our future.

A post shared by Ava DuVernay (@ava) on Dec 2, 2018 at 6:23am PST