Art allows us to be independent and think creatively in whatever that we do, says Leshoka Legate


Leshoka Joseph Legate is a Masters graduate of Tamarind Institute of Fine Art Lithography from the University of New Mexico. He is the second African Master Printer after his former boss Master Printer Mark Attwood. He was born and raised in a small village called Makotopong, in the outskirts of Polokwane.
 
Master Printer Leshoka Legate, Founder of LL Editions
 

 
In 2004 after Legate worked for Mark Attwood at The Artist’s Press for 6 years, he was granted a scholarship to study his Masters in Lithography in Mexico for two years. “It was indeed a great highlight in my career to be selected and shortlisted to be part of the Masters programme to study at Tamarind Institute. Almost 300 printers and artists from around the world applied and only six were shortlisted, what a great honour to be among the six selected to study Masters in Lithography. It was a great experience for me; especially because it was the first time I went outside South Africa and spent two years in a foreign land.”

Master Printer Leshoka Legate, Founder of LL Editions

 
He has worked and collaborated with great artists around the world and the artists include Robert Hodgins, Kim Berman, Sam Nhlengethwa, William Kentridge, Paul Scott, and Paul Stopforth among others. “Working with artists has always been a very profound moment for me. The energy they bring into the studio is very powerful to me, both as an artist myself and a collaborative Master Printer. Their presence every time they come around to work, gives a feeling that Art allows us to be independent and think creatively in whatever that we do,” says Legate.
Sanele Tjali, Jaco and Leshoka Legate at LL Editions Studios, 2014
 
 
Legate resigned at the Artist’s Press in May 2014 after having worked there more than 15 years and opened his new Fine Art Printmaking studio called LL Editions (Leshoka Legate Editions) in Johannesburg. His studio is the only studio that specialises in Fine Art of Lithography Printmaking in Johannesburg. “It has always been my dream to move back to Johannesburg after The Artist’s Press relocated to Mpumalanga in 2003. There are lot of opportunities in Johannesburg and the art scene here is so busy. I have worked with senior artists who were my mentors too and they always encouraged me to open my own lithography studio because I have a potential and that I can do well”.
 
 

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