Bio / Artist CV - Nardstar*

Nardstar*

Visual Artist

Nardstar* is an internationally acclaimed South African street artist whose distinctive geometric style and powerful storytelling have established her as one of the most influential muralists working globally today. Based in Cape Town, her career spans four continents with major public art installations from Nike’s World Headquarters to the iconic cooling towers of Soweto, creating works that reach millions while maintaining deep community connections.

Her artistic language seamlessly bridges authentic street art traditions with contemporary social commentary. Through bold geometric forms, carefully curated color palettes, and deeply rooted African themes, Nardstar* creates public art that celebrates women of color, indigenous heritage, and the Ubuntu philosophy that “I am because we are.” Her work transforms urban spaces into platforms for dialogue, community healing, and cultural celebration while preserving the raw authenticity of traditional graffiti culture.

From her breakthrough at Brooklyn’s influential Bushwick Collective to painting 100-meter landmark installations in Soweto, Nardstar* has proven her ability to create meaningful art at any scale. Her most impactful work—the 20-meter Ubuntu COVID awareness mural in Cape Town’s Philippi township—exemplifies her commitment to community engagement, working directly with residents to capture their pandemic experiences and resilience through art.

As a visual storyteller, her murals explore themes of identity, heritage, and social justice while celebrating the beauty of African flora, fauna, and cultural traditions. Her geometric style creates a unique visual language that speaks to both local communities and international audiences, bridging cultural divides through shared human experiences.

Beyond her individual practice, Nardstar* founded Free the Walls, a company dedicated to managing mural production while uplifting the street art scene through quality production standards, artist advocacy in commercial spaces, and inclusive paint jams open to all artists. Through this initiative, she actively works to elevate the entire community and create opportunities for emerging talent.

Recognized in Mail & Guardian’s “200 Young South Africans” and featured on international publications including The World Atlas of Street Art, Nardstar* continues to break barriers between street credibility and artistic excellence. Her recent landmark achievements include the Soweto Towers installation—one of Africa’s most significant public art projects—demonstrating her position at the forefront of contemporary street art: globally minded, socially conscious, and deeply connected to cultural authenticity and community upliftment.

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MAJOR COMMISSIONS & PROJECTS

Soweto Towers Project (2025)
Johannesburg, South Africa
Commissioned by Unilever to create artwork for 100-meter high landmark cooling towers in Soweto—one of Africa’s largest public art installations. Brands: Vaseline and Shield.

Radisson Red Hotel, V&A Waterfront (2025)
Cape Town, South Africa
Created custom vector artwork for rooftop bar installation at the prestigious V&A Waterfront location, one of Cape Town’s premier hospitality destinations.

Amazon Offices (2024)
Cape Town, South Africa
Large-scale interior mural commission for Amazon’s Cape Town office complex, transforming a long passageway into an immersive artistic experience.

Disney Springs Art Walk Mural Project (2023)
Disney World, Orlando, Florida
Commissioned to create permanent mural installation at Disney World Florida, reaching millions of international visitors annually.

Marvel Black Panther Merchandise Collaboration (2022)
Global Distribution
Created original artwork for the Black Panther franchise sold internationally through Walmart stores worldwide.

Open Society COVID Awareness Mural Project (2021)
Philippi, Cape Town, South Africa
Her largest mural to date on 20-meter high silos, created in collaboration with the Philippi community. Features portraits of community members alongside “UBUNTU,” representing resilience and interconnectedness during crisis.

Converse Environmental Collaboration (2021)
Cape Town, South Africa
Partnered with Converse to create gender and race equality themed mural using only paintbrushes and environmentally friendly paint, demonstrating sustainable street art practices.

Capitec Bank Headquarters (2020)
Cape Town, South Africa
Commissioned to paint the entrance mural celebrating the diversity of South Africa’s banking customers at one of the country’s largest financial institutions.

Nike World Headquarters Mural Project (2018)
Portland, Oregon, USA
Selected as part of an elite global group of street artists to create basketball celebration murals at Nike’s worldwide headquarters. Painted portrait honoring WNBA player.

Obama Foundation Summit (2017)
Chicago, USA
Created live mural at the inaugural Obama Foundation event, painting portraits of South African female anti-apartheid activists while engaging summit attendees in the creative process.

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INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS & EXHIBITIONS

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AWARDS & RECOGNITION

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SELECT COMMERCIAL PARTNERSHIPS

Cultural Institutions: The Obama Foundation (USA) | Royal Danish Embassy of South Africa | Steve Biko Foundation | Two Oceans Aquarium | UCT Lung Institute

International Festivals: Les Escales Festival (France) | Pick Up Productions (France) | Atelier PHP Perfumes (Germany)

Media & Publishing: The Big Issue Magazine | New Media | Universal Studios

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MEDIA & PUBLICATIONS

International Coverage:
The New York Times | Nike Global News | Brooklyn Street Art | Daily Maverick | Huffington Post

Book Features:
The World Atlas of Street Art (Cover Artist, 2024) | Street Art Africa (Cover, 2020) | Graffiti South Africa (Cover, 2014)

Documentary Features:
Concrete Flower Documentary | Art Africa Video Feature | Two Oceans Aquarium Conservation Feature

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*For major commission inquiries, brand collaborations, or international representation, please contact via the website.*