Commissions & Collaborations
Commissions & Collaborations
A practice beyond canvas
From the BMW Art Car to the Rolls-Royce Phantom, a Serpentine mural to the Louvre Abu Dhabi — landmark projects that carried Ndebele design into new contexts across the world.
2025
Commission
Projections of Harmony — Louvre Abu Dhabi
A monumental projection illuminating the Louvre Abu Dhabi with Ndebele geometric patterns, 2025
As part of 'Kings and Queens of Africa: Forms and Figures of Power' — the first exhibition in the UAE dedicated to African art, held at the Louvre Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi — Dr Esther Mahlangu's 'Projections of Harmony' illuminated the museum's facade and architecture with vibrant Ndebele geometric patterns.
2024
Commission
Presidential Gifts for 50 Heads of State — BRICS Summit
For the 2024 BRICS Summit, Dr Mahlangu was commissioned to create 50 painted gifts for visiting heads of state.
2024
Exhibition
Scope Miami, 8m Painting
'Ukuthula Makube Nawe' (Peace Be With You) — a monumental 8m painting, 2024
At SCOPE Miami 2024, Dr Esther Mahlangu unveiled 'Ukuthula Makube Nawe' (Peace Be With You) — a monumental 8m x 2m acrylic on canvas carrying a message of peace to the world.
2024
Commission
Serpentine North, Large-Scale Mural
Esther Mahlangu's first public artwork in the UK, 2024
In Autumn 2024, Serpentine unveiled a site-specific mural by Dr Esther Mahlangu — her first public artwork in the UK, on view in the garden at Serpentine North.
2024
Collaboration
BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA
A color-changing concept car tribute to the 1991 BMW Art Car, 2024
At Frieze Los Angeles 2024, BMW debuted the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA — a one-of-a-kind color-changing concept car using E Ink, paying tribute to Dr Mahlangu's 1991 BMW Art Car.
2024
Commission
BMW Art Car Returns to Johannesburg
The 1991 BMW 525i Art Car returns to South Africa for the first time in over 30 years, 2024
In 2024, the BMW 525i Art Car — painted by Dr Esther Mahlangu in 1991 — returned to South Africa for the first time in over 30 years, displayed at the Iziko South African National Gallery as part of her landmark retrospective.
2023
Commission
South African Reserve Bank Commission
Dr Mahlangu was commissioned by the South African Reserve Bank to design a commemorative coin, bringing Ndebele art to the national currency.
2023
Commission
Jean-Claude Mimran Mural — Chalet Africa, Gstaad
Dr Mahlangu painted a mural at Chalet Africa in Gstaad, Switzerland, commissioned by Jean-Claude Mimran.
2023
Collaboration
BMW Group South Africa 50th Anniversary Logo
A unique logo inspired by Dr Mahlangu's artwork, 2023
In 2023, BMW partnered with Dr Esther Mahlangu to create a unique logo, inspired by her artwork, to celebrate 50 years of business in South Africa.
2023
Collaboration
BMW Electric Canvas
Art Basel in Basel, Frieze Seoul, Contemporary Istanbul, 2023
On the occasion of Art Basel in Basel 2023, BMW presented the 'Electric AI Canvas', with Dr Esther Mahlangu selected alongside four renowned contemporary artists to transform the electric BMW i5 into a dynamic canvas.
2020
Commission
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Commission
The first artwork created for the Rolls-Royce Phantom Gallery, 2020
In 2020, Dr Esther Mahlangu became the first artist commissioned to create a unique artwork for the Rolls-Royce Phantom Gallery — a one-of-a-kind motor car named 'The Mahlangu Phantom' in her honour.
2020
Collaboration
Carol Bouwer Bag Collaboration
A collaboration with South African media personality Carol Bouwer on a handbag bearing Dr Mahlangu's Ndebele designs.
2020
Commission
Southgate Mural
A large-scale mural by Dr Mahlangu at Southgate, Johannesburg, bringing Ndebele painting into the public realm.
2018
Collaboration
Freshpak Rooibos Limited-Edition Tin
A limited-edition rooibos tin featuring Dr Mahlangu's Ndebele artwork, 2018
In 2018, Freshpak rooibos collaborated with Dr Esther Mahlangu on a limited-edition tin featuring her iconic Ndebele artwork, with a portion of proceeds donated to preserve Ndebele art.
2017
Collaboration
Belvedere RED Campaign with John Legend
A collaboration with John Legend for the (BELVEDERE) RED campaign, 2017
In 2017, Belvedere vodka collaborated with Dr Esther Mahlangu and John Legend on the (BELVEDERE) RED campaign, donating 50% of profits from limited-edition bottles to the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa.
2016
Commission
BMW Individual 7 Series
A one-of-a-kind BMW 7 Series painted with Ndebele patterns, 2016
In 2016, BMW and Dr Esther Mahlangu joined forces for a second time, transforming a BMW 7 Series into a one-of-a-kind work of art through the BMW Individual Manufaktur.
2015
Collaboration
Eytys Sneaker Collaboration
Swedish sneaker brand Eytys collaborated with Dr Mahlangu on a limited-edition 'Doja' sneaker bearing her Ndebele designs.
2014
Commission
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts — Art Residency
Two permanent murals in Evans Court, gateway to the African Art Gallery, 2014
In September 2014, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts commissioned Dr Esther Mahlangu to create two permanent 9-by-15-foot murals in Evans Court as a gateway to the African Art Gallery — her only major museum commission in North America at the time.
2010
Commission
FIFA Fine Art Collection
For the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Dr Mahlangu contributed to the official FIFA Fine Art Collection.
2007
Collaboration
Why Africa? — Fiat 500
Dr Mahlangu was invited to paint a Fiat 500 for the 'Why Africa?' project in Turin, bringing Ndebele design to an icon of Italian design.
2004
Commission
The Nelson Mandela Unity Series
A collaborative lithograph series uniting Nelson Mandela's hand with the art of Esther Mahlangu, in tribute to a shared vision of unity.
2000
Collaboration
Sol LeWitt Collaboration — Lyon Biennial 2000
Partage d'Exotismes, 5th Lyon Biennial
At the 5th Lyon Biennial in 2000, curator Jean-Hubert Martin brought Esther Mahlangu together with American minimalist Sol LeWitt to work side by side — a curatorial gesture affirming the formal parallels between Ndebele geometric abstraction and Western conceptual minimalism.
1991
Commission
The BMW Art Car
The first woman and first African artist to paint a BMW Art Car, 1991
In 1991, Dr Esther Mahlangu became the first woman and first African artist commissioned to paint a BMW Art Car, transforming a BMW 525i with traditional Ndebele motifs — her first work on a surface other than a wall.
Project Enquiries
For commission proposals, institutional partnerships, and collaboration enquiries, please contact The Melrose Gallery as Dr Mahlangu's official global representative.
Contact the Gallery