The Cape Gallery has dealt in Mandla Vanyaza’s work since 1987, at which point he was studying in Barbara Jackson's ceramic studio. He has participated regularly in the Cape Gallery annual Salon exhibition.
Mandla’s schooling was done in Cape Town and his final two years of secondary education in Butterworth, Transkei. Thereafter he completed an apprenticeship in carpentry and worked as a carpentry instructor.

His involvement with art was first on a part-time basis when he attended evening classes at the Community Arts Project in Woodstock. Life drawing, sculpture and painting were the three main areas of his studies. It was only in 1990 that Mandla began working full time as an artist in Cape Town: since then he has participated in various group shows and had a small solo show at the Association of Arts (Western Cape)
The scale of Vanyaza's sculpture is usually small and intimate and he likes to create a group of small figures interacting with each other. They are ceramic sculptures painted with various glazes and fired.
Mandla Vanyaza's oil paintings are usually painted in an impasto technique, which results in a richly textured surface. His personal preference for closely related chromatic ranges heightens the uniformity of the painted surface. " I don't like sharp colours, I prefer to work with off-colours". His enjoyment of colour is illuminated in his statement "….for me, sometimes painting is only about colour".

The early 20th century French schools of painting have always been a great source of inspiration for Mandla, in particular the Fauves. Although not formally connected to the Fauves, Kees van Dongen's treatment of colour and the human figure continue to inspire Mandla. The acute draughtsmanship and particular observation of Honoré Daumier also serve as a constant invigorating force.

Mandla Vanyaza's imminent study period at the Cité International des Arts in Paris will bring him into direct contact with the French Artists who style he so much admires.

RESUME
2005
Participated in the group exhibition “Encompass” at the Cape Gallery
1998
Solo exhibition at Sue Lipshitz Gallery.
1997
Solo exhibition at AVA
1996
Exhibited in "Art for Peace" Exhibition in Steyr, Austria
1995
Exhibited in 'South African Artists' exhibition in Geneva.
1994
Fourth solo exhibition at the SAAA
Exhibited in “Crosscurrents" Exhibition in Miami, Florida (Group Exhibition)
1993
Third solo exhibition at the SAAA
1992
Second solo exhibition at the SAAA
Mandla was sponsored by the Foundation for Creative Arts and by SAAA Head Office for a five month stay at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris. He has also had works on group shows in Nice, Singapore and locally.
1991
First solo exhibition at the SAAA
1990
Began working full time as an artist and taking part in group shows at the SAAA.
1986
Qualified in carpentry after first doing an apprenticeship. Worked as a carpentry instructor. Attended part time classes at C.A.P. in Woodstock and participated in group exhibitions there.

Mandla Vanyaza Studied in Cape Town until Std. 8 and completed matric in the Transkei.

HIS WORKS ARE IN THE FOLLOWING COLLECTIONS:

South African National Gallery
Metropolitan Life Collection
Sasol Collection.

Mandla Vanyaza has artworks in private collections in South Africa and abroad.