Cyprian Mpho Shilakoe was born on August 3, 1946, in Barberton, located in the Eastern Transvaal. He spent his formative years in the quiet, remote setting of the Buchbeesreich mission station, an environment that would later influence the introspective and spiritual quality of his art.
Between 1968 and 1970, Shilakoe studied at the Rorke's Drift Art Centre, a pivotal institution in the development of modern South African art. There, he was mentored by renowned artist Azaria Mbatha, whose influence helped shape Shilakoe’s evolving visual language.
In 1970, he settled at a Lutheran mission station near Roodepoort, where he established a studio and developed a productive artistic partnership with fellow artist Dan Rakgoathe. During this period, Shilakoe focused on creating wooden sculptures and etchings, marked by a distinctive style that blended traditional African symbolism with modernist abstraction.
Tragically, Cyprian Shilakoe's life and promising career were cut short when he died in a car accident in September 1972, at the age of 26. Despite his brief career, his work remains a powerful testament to the artistic vitality and cultural resonance of his generation.
