Hoek Swaratlhe born and based in Soweto, Johannesburg, is a South African photographer and visual artist whose practice explores
community, urban culture, and the socio-political narratives that shape contemporary South Africa. A graduate of the Advanced Programme
in Photography at the Market Photo Workshop (2018), his work reflects a deep engagement with everyday life in townships and the
resilience embedded within them. Swaratlhe has exhibited widely, including at David Krut Projects, RMB Latitudes Art Fair, KZNSA
Gallery, and the Market Photo Workshop. In 2024, he won 1st Prize in the Umsizi Nopende Award, recognising his distinctive visual voice.
His practice often merges photography with printmaking processes such as monotype, silkscreen, and lithography to transform his images
into tactile reflections on memory, place, and identity. He is currently part of Occupying the Gallery, a mentorship and residency initiative
under the guidance of Lawrence Lemaoana and Mary Sibande.
community, urban culture, and the socio-political narratives that shape contemporary South Africa. A graduate of the Advanced Programme
in Photography at the Market Photo Workshop (2018), his work reflects a deep engagement with everyday life in townships and the
resilience embedded within them. Swaratlhe has exhibited widely, including at David Krut Projects, RMB Latitudes Art Fair, KZNSA
Gallery, and the Market Photo Workshop. In 2024, he won 1st Prize in the Umsizi Nopende Award, recognising his distinctive visual voice.
His practice often merges photography with printmaking processes such as monotype, silkscreen, and lithography to transform his images
into tactile reflections on memory, place, and identity. He is currently part of Occupying the Gallery, a mentorship and residency initiative
under the guidance of Lawrence Lemaoana and Mary Sibande.
