Sphesihle’s Smoke Art Portrait Connects Him with SA Music Visionary Mbuso Khoza

Photo Credit: Sphesihle Hlatshwayo

Sphesihle Hlatshwayo transformed his childhood resource limitations into powerful art by using the unpredictable fragility of candle smoke on tissue paper to create stunning portraits, including one that forged a humbling connection with his muse, South African musical visionary Mbuso Khoza.

Johannesburg, South Africa (02 October 2025) – Hailing from the township of Daveyton in Johannesburg, multidisciplinary artist Sphesihle Brian Hlatshwayo’s extraordinary talent and artistic expression have been deeply influenced by his personal history and the vibrant environment that shaped his journey.

In an exclusive interview with Good Things Guy, we got to chat to the visual storyteller known to create masterpieces by burning tissue with candle smoke and recently got to meet one of his celebrity muses, South African musical visionary, Mbuso Khoza.

“My love for art was born out of limitation. At the age of five, my great-grandmother handed me tissue paper to draw on because we didn’t have proper materials at home,” he says.

“She herself had a habit of writing people’s phone numbers on scraps of tissue to save them in her phone, so for her, it was simply practical, but for me, it was life-changing. That small act showed me that creativity does not need perfect conditions to exist. From that moment, I realised art was not just something I do, it is who I am.”

Sphesihle works with multiple mediums, but his favourite remains candle smoke on tissue paper.

“It is fragile, unpredictable, and yet it holds an incredible depth of beauty. This medium is deeply personal because of my childhood story, but it also carries symbolic meaning. The fragility of tissue reflects the vulnerability of life, while smoke becomes the mark of resilience, transformation, and memory.”

Despite the limitations and challenges he’s faced along the way, Sphesihle remains committed to using art as his language of expression and transformation.

The 20-year-old visionary is currently pursuing his Fine Arts degree and recently crafted a portrait of uBab’ Mbuso Khoza using his medium of choice. The piece took him about two days to complete, with every layer carefully built to capture not just his likeness, but the essence of his spirit and legacy.

“Working with smoke is like collaborating with the unseen; it floats, it shifts, and it demands surrender and control at the same time.”

After sharing images and videos of the portrait on his social media, it soon reached the veteran musician and actor, leading to their connection and the opportunity to meet him in person at the Amahubo symphony event took place at Constitutional Hill in Johannesburg.

“What touched me most was his humility and openness. He received the artwork with such grace, and in that moment, it felt like two worlds meeting through the language of art.”

For Sphesihle, this experience was surreal and profoundly humbling.

“Meeting uBab’ Khoza, an artist whose work carries so much cultural weight, reminded me why I create in the first place. The recognition that followed was overwhelming in the best way. It showed me that art can cross boundaries, spark conversations, and connect souls.”

As a young and growing artist, this moment affirmed that his voice, no matter how fragile it may seem, has power and reach.