RALPH ZIMAN

ABOUT
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AFRIKA47 COLLECTIVE
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ABOUT
EXHIBITIONS
PROJECTS
ARTWORK
AFRIKA47 COLLECTIVE
PRESS
SHOP
CONTACT

BEADED PANELS

casspir-38002

Ralph Ziman_beaded panels_install

AK-47_Beaded_Panel_2_of_6_b8kmvu

afrika_47

South African-born artist & filmmaker 🇿🇦
Exploring conflict, legacy, resistance and beauty
#TheCasspirProject #TheMiG21Project
📍 Los Angeles

The AK-47 Project catalog is finally published and

The AK-47 Project catalog is finally published and available for purchase. This was a particularly special one to put together, as @nichofmeyr and I reflected on the beginnings of this series and on what we didn’t know then would become the first installment of the #WeaponsofMassProduction trilogy.

At nearly twice the length of the other catalogs, there was simply too much history and material to leave out.

Thank you to The Afrika47 Collective, whose hands, skill, and artistry brought this series to life:
@boasmanzvenga
@mwashushakennedy
@lenontinarwo
@pangaphiri
@telmoremasangudza

Thank you to @suztheobscure for your impeccable design and editing, and to @typecraft for your patience and perfection in printing!

🔶 To purchase: ➡️ click on Online Shop through the link in my bio or click the catalog link in this post.

#Ralphziman #Afrika47 #theAK47project #southafricanbeadwork

Love seeing this beaded panel installed at a colle

Love seeing this beaded panel installed at a collector’s Santa Monica residence.

Each of these panels have been meticulously crafted by several South African Ndebele artisans from #TheAfrika47Collective simultaneously. Upon each individual’s completion of a segment, several pieces of beaded panels are sewn together to create a cohesive, abstract masterpiece. The finished panel is then mounted onto board and framed with wire and glass bead pieces crafted by a team of Zimbabwean artisans.

The MiG-21 Project Beaded Panel
Glass Beads, Thread, Metal Wire on board
76 x 41 x 3 inches
Approx. 45 lbs

#RalphZiman #afrika47 #southafricanbeadwork #TheMiG21Project

Thank you @jeffreydeitchgallery! 🙏🏻 The Art Parade

Thank you @jeffreydeitchgallery! 🙏🏻 The Art Parade at @lacma was the perfect platform to unveil “The Two Bicycles of Sipho Dlamnini” and share our celebration of South African beadwork, collaboration, community, and beauty.

6.20.26
Photos by @afrika_47

#afrika47
#ralphziman
#lacmaartparade
#jeffreydeitchgallery
#southafricanbeadwork

Beautiful photos by @cloakofqualia from the @lacma

Beautiful photos by @cloakofqualia from the @lacma Art Parade in collaboration with @jeffreydeitchgallery 🙏🏻 Just loved the energy of this whole day and everyone that got to see the work. 🇿🇦
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#afrika47
#ralphziman
#lacmaartparade
#southafricanbeadwork

I haven’t stopped reflecting on what it meant to s

I haven’t stopped reflecting on what it meant to share this work with more than 50,000 people on the streets of Los Angeles at the @lacma parade curated by @jeffreydeitchgallery ❤️

This project has always been about collaboration. Every bead and every costume represents years of dedication, craftsmanship, and friendship—from the extraordinary artisans I work with in South Africa to the incredible team here in Los Angeles who helped bring it to life.

I’m deeply grateful to everyone who shared their talent, time, and heart with this project. What you saw at LACMA was just the beginning. I can’t wait to share what’s next. 🙏🏻

🇿🇦 𝕊𝕠𝕦𝕥𝕙 𝔸𝕗𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕋𝕖𝕒𝕞:
Artisans:
Thenjiwe Nkogatsi& Anointed Hands Collective
Bowasi Manzvenga @manzvengaboas
Kennedy Mwashusha @mwashushakennedy
Lenon Tinarwo @lenontinarwo
Panghanai Phiri @pangaphiri
Telmore Masangudza @masangud
Livingstone Dombodzvuku @livingstoned51

🇺🇸 𝕃𝕠𝕤 𝔸𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕤 / 𝕌𝕊𝔸 𝕋𝕖𝕒𝕞:
Executive Director: @cindy_schwarzstein
Director of Operations & Exhibitions: @__thehuntress__
Art Director: @nickbonamy
Cinematographer: @cloakofqualia
Lead Costumer Designer: @rebeccaklika
Assistant Art Director: @francesca_quintano
Costume Designer: @_rookery_
Costumer Designer: @jessegeearts
Artist Assistant: @sirdorian_
Model: @kelli_dawn
Model: @hiimblessing
Artist Assistant: @allegra_t0rres
Artist Assistant: @iknowasher
Hair & Makeup: @chinakupshaw
Nails: @horikati

#afrika47 #ralphziman #lacmaartparade #southafricanart #southafricanbeadwork

SEE YOU TODAY! 📍@lacma The Art Parade, Presented b

SEE YOU TODAY! 📍@lacma The Art Parade, Presented by LACMA in collaboration with jeffreydeitch 🥳

🔸𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕕 𝕞𝕒𝕟 𝕒𝕤𝕜𝕤: “𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕀 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕡𝕝𝕒𝕪?”
🔸𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕚𝕤𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕟 𝕒𝕤𝕜𝕤: “𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕀 𝕘𝕚𝕧𝕖?”
🔹𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕥𝕣𝕦𝕝𝕪 𝕘𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥 𝕞𝕒𝕟 𝕒𝕤𝕜𝕤: “𝕎𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕨𝕖 𝕓𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕 — 𝕥𝕠𝕘𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣?”

#afrika47
#ralphziman
#lacmaartparade
#southafricanbeadwork

Join us TOMORROW at @lacma The Art Parade as we pr

Join us TOMORROW at @lacma The Art Parade as we present “The Two Bicycles of Sipho Dlamini”: my latest work that combines sculpture, performance, and storytelling, drawing inspiration from a South African folk tale about pride, patience, and the bridge between hearts, while calling on the Nguni Bantu proverb “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”: A person is a person through other people.
🇿🇦❤️

THANK YOU to all who helped bring this to life 🙏🏻

🔸 Saturday, June 20, 2026 | 6pm PT @ @lacma
🔸 Presented by LACMA in collaboration with jeffreydeitch
🔸 @metrolosangeles - The D (Purple) Line now brings you directly to LACMA at the Wilshire/Fairfax station.

#afrika47
#ralphziman
#lacmaartparade
#southafricanbeadwork

2️⃣ days till the @lacma Art Parade! A few progres

2️⃣ days till the @lacma Art Parade! A few progress photos from our teams in LA and Johannesburg

Join us June 20 at 6pm as we unveil “The Two Bicycles of Sipho Dlamini” 🇿🇦❤️

🔸 Saturday, June 20, 2026 | 6pm PT @ @lacma
🔸 Presented by LACMA in collaboration with @jeffreydeitch
🔸 @metrolosangeles - The D (Purple) Line now brings you directly to LACMA at the Wilshire/Fairfax station.

#afrika47
#ralphziman
#lacmaartparade
#southafricanbeadwork

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