A 24-year-old Ricollin Moodley from Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal, has transformed the narrative of his life from one of hunger to artistic triumph in a remarkable demonstration of resilience and creativity, reports Cape {town} Etc.
Renowned as ‘the lipstick artist’, Moodley has captured public attention by innovatively using lipstick as his medium to create stunning pieces of art.
Moodley’s journey began in 2017, on the sun-kissed sands of Port Edward beach. At just 16 years old and in grade eleven, he found himself hungry and searching for a way to contribute to his family’s struggling finances. With his mother unwell and his father as the sole breadwinner, their situation was dire.
My dad’s salary was only able to cover the rent, and we had no food at all,’ Moodley recalls. Faced with such adversity, he made the courageous decision to channel his frustration into creativity.
Armed with borrowed pages from the local library, Moodley began to sketch. His first commission was an illustration of a tender reunion between a grandfather and his grandchild.
With the encouragement of that first client, Moodley and his mother created a Facebook account to showcase his burgeoning talent. While juggling school and artistry, he produced three artworks a day which his mother shared online.
Their outreach attracted generous donations from the community, providing him with an array of art supplies paints, charcoals, and pastels supporting his constant desire to create.
In 2022, when he found himself facing financial constraints once more, Moodley made a serendipitous discovery that would change the trajectory of his artistic career.
As he sifted through rubbish bins, he uncovered a box of discarded makeup and lipsticks. Seizing the opportunity, he began experimenting with these unconventional materials, giving birth to his signature style.
Since then, Moodley has showcased a variety of styles from shiny to matte and even smudge-proof using a diverse range of lipstick brands that allow his creativity to flourish.
Compiled by Sibuliso Duba
First published on Cape {Town} Etc
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