Karabo Poppy

Karabo Poppy Moletsane (born 1992) is a South African illustrator, graphic designer, and street artist. Poppy has done work for the Wall Street Journal, Google, Coca-Cola, and Nike, including designing shoes worn by LeBron James. She created the graphics for the first African series on Netflix, Queen Sono, and When They See Us. She collaborated with RICH MNISI on a unisex clothing collection, called Running Errands, in 2020. Her Utah Jazz mural is installed in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Quotes

• “I was blown away by how people were creating digital art with all this software I’d never heard of, and communicating just using their art,”
• “I came from a traditional art background, and seeing people use technology to tell stories really captivated me.”
• “What we were learning was catered to more of a Western narrative, and we weren’t really seeing an African narrative being taught or explored, or even encouraged,”
• “In the textbooks, there was traditional and primitive African art, nothing contemporary, or in the context of advertising or digitisation.”
• “I didn’t think anyone that came from where I came from would be listened to.”
• “In the beginning, I didn’t think my voice would be enough, or that anyone that came from where I came from would even be listened to.”
• “That’s when the fire got lit underneath me, because it wasn’t being done, and I thought it was overdue.”
• “It was the first time we saw black people create something so uniquely theirs, and so visually beautiful, that spoke of all the things we learn at home, in a way that was so proud and unashamed. It was so far away from us, but we could relate to everything we saw in the music, fashion and sitcoms – it still felt like home somehow.”
• “It’s always been a part of my journey since I was little, so it felt like it came full circle, and confirmed what I’m doing. And now my parents believe that this is a real job!”
• “I feel immense pressure because I really want to represent my identity correctly and authentically, make sure it’s being celebrated and not exploited for monetary gain or trendiness. But I take comfort in knowing that my community really supports me, and is really encouraging me to continue to do what I do. And I trust my own decisions.”
  • IT'S NICE THAT, "How Karabo Poppy Moletsane is permeating the real African aesthetic worldwide". 24 February 2020, www.itsnicethat.com. , Jenny Brewer. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
• “When I started my (art) journey, I was really inspired by hip-hop, rap and basketball, and I’d always seen this theme of Nike Air Force 1s and Air Jordans,”
• “I’d always associated that with Black people really creating groundbreaking, global, effective work and I really wanted to be a part of it.”
• “Hair has been something that’s important for not only my family but a lot of African people as well; it’s really like the center of our identity in a way. So, when I started drawing, I’d draw people having really fresh haircuts or beautiful braids.”
• “Within all of my work you’ll see nuggets of a zigzag and that represents cornrows that you see in beautiful patterns; you’ll see combs, you’ll see people that look familiar to myself and my narrative,”
• “We need to see more female designers in the industry. There’s not enough,”
• “I’m extremely proud to be a Black female African illustrator because this was a space, I’ll say 10 years ago, there weren’t a ton of us there,”
• “There’s a certain way in which we tell stories that I think the world not only will enjoy, but I think the world needs.”
  • Michelle Cohan (22 February 2021). "Illustrator Karabo Poppy's take on sneaker culture celebrates African design". CNN. Retrieved 25 March 2025.

Quotes About Her

• "Shoebox collections like Poppy’s tower are a source of pride within sneaker culture, according to Wells. By having those boxes serve as her “vision board,”
  • Michelle Cohan (22 February 2021). "Illustrator Karabo Poppy's take on sneaker culture celebrates African design". CNN. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
• "The first time I learnt about Karabo Poppy Moletsane and her work was four years ago when she was unveiled as one of the African creatives, who collaborated with a major European brand."
• "Among those creatives were the impeccable Manthe Ribane and Nonku Phiri, I knew there and then that she was a force; given the calibre of brilliant women she was featured alongside. Her work was impressive then and still is now; she has not looked back since."
  • Wa AFRICA ONLINE, "Multi Award-winning Illustrator Karabo Poppy Moletsane Collaborates With Nike". Retrieved 24 February 2021.