Mandla Vanyaza is an artist based in Cape Town. He uses the medium of oil and finds inspiration in the beauty and natural dignity of Africans. Colour and symbolism is used to explore gender in urban context.

While largely self-taught, it was attending part-time art classes at CAP (Community Art Projects) in Woodstock, Cape Town in 1988 that fuelled the love for painting.

A sponsored trip by the Foundation for Creative Arts to spend five months in Paris in 1992 broadened his experience. The highlight was meeting the renowned South African artist, Gerard Sekoto.

Through self-study he gained Art teaching skills and N6 Art and Design, which landed him a temporary teaching job at Sivuyile College in Guguletu, Cape Town. He has served in art committees, e.g. AVA( Association for Visual arts).

He is represented through his work at the SA National Gallery, the SA Parliament and many public and private art collections.