Blessing Ngobeni is a young South African whose childhood was filled with painful memories.
Growing up in a broken home where he was exposed to abuse, Blessing ran away from home and found comfort in the wrong crowd in Alexandra.
Like many of his peers at the time, at the mere age of fifteen, Blessing was already involved in crime. This led to him being arrested for robbery. He spent nearly six years in prison.
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It was in prison that he discovered his purpose.
Ngobeni started sketching fellow inmates’ portraits and realised that this was one of his talents.
After coming out of prison, he enrolled at the Artist Proof Studio and even worked for David Krut Publishers.
His amazing work led to him hosting exhibitions.
Today, he is proud to be called an award-winning artist. Ngobeni won the Reinhold Cassirer Award in 2012.
He has since traveled the world with his work. He has exhibited in New York, London, and Venice.
The man who was once a prisoner is now using his life story and talent to motivate youngsters.
“Art freed me from imprisonment,” he told Beautiful News.
“I encourage people to commit to things that make them feel free,” he said.
See some of his work below.
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