Help Gift to get to California Institute of the Arts

Hi, I am Gift Kgosi and I originate from Upington, a small town in the Kalahari region of South Africa, where I was raised by my grandparents after losing my mother at the age of 11.

My mother was a strong and creative woman who had an undying passion for nature, specifically the ocean. To honour her memory and to cope with the grief, I would always make trips to the beach whenever I got a chance to visit the coastal areas of my country. This is how my love and connection to nature developed. For my work as an artist and designer, I draw a lot of inspiration from nature – various textures, fascinating imperfect shapes and an endless pool of colours and shades.

I am made up of a medley of identities and cultures, but I resonate more with my Khoisan roots. This is evident in my creations, which are laced with hints of my heritage and made to reflect the rich and iconic aesthetic of Khoi people. I am also hugely inspired by traditional African regalia, so I try to recreate forgotten adornments into new designs to preserve African heritage.

Respecting and honouring my African identity extends to the way I treat the environment. I am aware of the harm and damage that the production of clothes can cause to the environment. I believe it will take a collective effort from as many creators as possible from all over the world. I am doing my bit by ensuring that both my creative and business practices are ethical and promote sustainability. Set design is also a medium explored within my love for indigenous. I use elements from nature, like trees, leaves and branches to recreate stories told by our elders in a futuristic way. My designs are mostly described as emotive and unique. I would describe them as rebellious and liberated. I have also collected numerous accolades, the most recent being 'Heritage and Culture Designer of the Year 2022' (the Fashion Industry Award of South Africa).

I recently got accepted at California Institute of the Arts, one of the best design schools in the world. I received a metir scholarship of $26.000 to cover a part of my tuition fee. The National Arts Council of South Africa also funded me a bursary. My school and cost of living (equipment, tuition, medical expenses, flights and accomodation) is estimated at $88.000. This is what is required for the validation of my F1 Visa.

I am very curious about the space Africa will occupy in the future with art and design and I understand that this is an opportunity of a lifetime for me to embark on this journey and then come back and empower other artists within smaller communities.

I would be very thankful for your contribution towards this dream and I pledge to provide my services to any organisation or institution who might need them in the future.

Thank you!