Chronicle Editor
Sipepisiwe Moyo – [email protected]
Renowned visual artist Picasso Leon has started the year on a high note, doing what he does best – creating stunning portraits of musicians. This time, Picasso opened 2025 with a masterpiece of Scotts Maphuma, a South African Amapiano artiste who performed at a local club last weekend.
Known for his exceptional talent, Picasso has previously sketched portraits of renowned artistes, including the late Costa Titch, Murumba Pitch, Nkosazana Daughter, Sir Trill, Lady Du, Young Stunna, and his first A1 acrylic portrait for Oscar Mbo.
In an interview, Picasso shared his excitement about connecting with prominent artistes.
“Presenting the portrait to Scotts Maphuma was a moment I’ll never forget. As a huge fan of his music, it was an honour to create a piece that captured his essence. I began working on the portrait on January 4 and completed it on January 18, just in time for the presentation,” he said.
Despite a brief interruption by a bouncer during the handover, Picasso managed to share a heartfelt moment with Scotts.
“The crowd’s reaction was incredible – they cheered and applauded as Scotts held up the portrait, beaming with pride. Seeing the impact of my art on both Scotts and the audience was truly humbling. It filled me with joy, gratitude, and validation. It was surreal to know that my artwork resonated with someone I admire.”
For the first time, Picasso chose not to give away the portrait, instead proposing to Scotts that he keep it for future exhibitions. Scotts graciously agreed.
“I’m thrilled that he reposted the artwork on Instagram, helping to share my creativity with his fans. What’s remarkable is that I accomplished all of this without any sponsorships. I’m proud to have done everything on my own, but I believe that with the right support, I could take my art to even greater heights,” Picasso explained.
Picasso expressed his gratitude to key individuals and organisations that made the presentation possible.
“I want to thank Mduduzi Mdlongwa from 3D Events for his unwavering support and the opportunity, as well as Gipa Entertainment, Beeny De’Rams, Scotts Maphuma, DJ Liz, and everyone who helped make this possible. A special thank you goes to Lana Creatives for beautifully capturing the moment through their photography skills.”
Online Reporter
Londile Moyo