Everything is Art for Self-Taught Artist Ricollin Moodley
Lipstick is made to beautify the face, and tamatie sauce is one of the few sensible partners for fried chips and hot dogs. But this is what the average mind of the everyday thinks of ordinary objects to be used for what they were made for and foods that were manufactured to be eaten. This is where self-taught artist Ricollin Moodley defies all reason, creating artworks of prominent celebrities by using cosmetics, foodstuffs, and various household items.
Born in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, the autodidactic artisan has achieved viral fame on the socials for his striking renditions of public figures. While other painters have garnered acclaim for putting acrylic on paper and oil on canvas, the 27-year-old go-getter has not only gone against the grain artistically but resource-wise, improvising paintbrushes out of spices, charcoal, and condiments.
Ricollin Moodley next to a Black Coffee artwork made from coffee | SUPPLIED
In his most recent endeavours, Moodley has put out creations that run parallel to the subjects of his artwork by their names. This has resulted in artworks that range from North Carolina rap icon J. Cole being done with pieces of coal and famed American basketball shooter Stephen Curry being rendered in curry powder. This series has seen Moodley draw superstar YouTuber MrBeast using his chocolate brand Feastables while making a portrait of Fenty founder Rihanna using Fenty lipstick.
With a following of 479K on Instagram and 162K on TikTok, Moodley’s journey is powered by his mother, who suffered a leg amputation. As a result of the life-changing surgery, Moodley has had to use his art for necessities while also leveraging his social media reach to market his BackaBuddy fundraiser to support his family. The fundraiser, set at 400 000, not only reached its target but is currently sitting at over 447 000, with generous donors chiming in for the initiative.
Ricollin’s TikTok explaining his mother’s condition:
Ricollin’s story is not just a story of making do with what one has and maximising it; it is about resilience amid hardship and painting the light at the end of the tunnel when there isn’t one in sight.