Anelisa Mangcu Is Weaving Art Into Legacy

Anelisa Mangcus journey in the art world was shaped by a rich family legacy, with creativity running deep in her bloodline.

As the great-granddaughter of George Pemba, the iconic South African social realist painter, Mangcus early exposure to the power of art sparked a lifelong passion.

I was in the fortunate position of witnessing joy through art and the act of creating it up close. Like any kid, I was always quite naturally curious about it.

Mangcu recalls taking all things art-related very seriously as a child, including theatre and dance. In high school, she started a photographic society and was asked to put together a team for the school magazine to document activities at Rustenburg Girls High School in Cape Town.

With the help of a teacher, she successfully applied for photography to be introduced as a subject at the school, leaving a legacy behind when she matriculated.