Announcing Merchandise Collection by Tlhagella Emerging Artists

Young Emerging Artists Turn Creativity into Economic Opportunity Through Tlhagella Merchandise Collection.

The Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria (Javett-UP) is proud to announce the Between Here and Elsewhere merchandise collection, featuring products inspired by the work of emerging artists Hulisani Khorombi, Kgothatso Clinton Mokale, Mohapi Pepenene, Senzelw’umusa Mathe, and Ziyanda Mkhosana. Developed through the Tlhagella Incubation Programme, the collection transforms their artworks into commercially available products, creating new opportunities for creative entrepreneurship, increased visibility, and income generation.

The range is now available at the Javett-UP Shop and will soon be accessible online. Supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), the initiative reflects Javett-UP’s commitment to supporting artists beyond the exhibition space by creating pathways for professional development and meaningful participation in the creative economy.

The participating artists were selected from the Top 10's Between Here and Elsewhere exhibition cohort by a panel that included the late Maria McCloy, whose experience in fashion and the creative industries helped shape the development of the collection. Their artworks have been reimagined as limited-edition products available through a profit-sharing model that directly benefits the artists.

Inspired by the themes of Between Here and Elsewhere exhibition, the collection reflects journeys of growth, resilience, and self-determination. It celebrates artists who have embraced uncertainty, challenged limitations, and carved out space for themselves through their creative practices.

Each product reflects the distinct artistic language and lived experiences of its creator:

Kgothatso Clinton Mokale presents a mesh top inspired by mogusha (stockings), materials central to their artistic practice, alongside a scarf printed with derogatory words they have encountered because of their gender identity. The pieces explore self-expression, visibility, and belonging.

Hulisani Khorombi's placemat incorporates a Venda textile-inspired butterfly motif, connecting her work to her cultural heritage and the imagery featured throughout her photographic practice.

Ziyanda Mkhosana's fleece blanket and tablecloth draw from her artwork The Great Pretender, which combines scrap metal, rusted materials, and paper to explore the experiences of Black women and the social structures that shape domestic labour and identity.

Mohapi Pepenene's tops, tote bags, and coasters reflect his ongoing investigation into how imposed architectural systems and materials have disrupted indigenous ways of understanding, inhabiting, and relating to space.

Senzelw’umusa Mathe is a designer who works with crochet, a technique passed down by her maternal grandmother. Through portraiture, she honours inherited knowledge while asserting a contemporary presence. These themes are reflected in her tote bag and sticker designs.

Together, the collection demonstrates how contemporary art can move beyond exhibition spaces while remaining connected to the ideas, histories, and experiences from which it emerges. It stands as a celebration of artistic growth, resilience, and the courage to imagine new possibilities.

The Between Here and Elsewhere Merchandise Collection is now available for purchase at the Javett-UP Shop.