Kim Karabo Makin (b. Gaborone, Botswana) is a multidisciplinary artist whose work navigates themes of displacement, multiculturalism, and the contextual nature of identity formation. Based in Botswana, Makin’s practice integrates Sculpture, Sound, and Installation, drawing from her academic background in Fine Art, completed with distinction at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town. Her works explore cultural value, archival histories, and spatial dynamics, often informed by her parallel experience as a radio presenter.
Her most recent solo exhibition, “the doors of culture shall be opened” (2022), was showcased at Linnaeus in Gaborone. Makin’s contributions to group exhibitions are extensive, with notable participations including “Home is where the art is” (Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town, 2020–2021), “The Devil Loves When We Loathe Ourselves” (99 Loop Gallery, Cape Town, 2018), and four iterations of “The Botswana Pavilion,” presented in venues such as Gallery MOMO (Cape Town), the Botswana National Art Gallery (Gaborone), and Sakhile&Me (Frankfurt). Among these projects, “The Botswana Pavilion” also featured in “Unfinished Camp” at the Zeitz MOCAA, contributing the video “Kgolokwe: Separated Intersections,” which was exhibited internationally in Basel, New York, São Paulo, and Berlin.
Residencies play a pivotal role in Makin’s evolving practice. In 2022, she completed a residency at The Art House Wakefield, supported by the Royal Over-Seas League Visual Arts Scholarship. Other notable programs include an online residency with Ja Ja Ja Nee Nee Nee and her selection as a Hub Manager for the Creative Hubs Academy in 2019, supported by Nesta, the British Council, and Hivos. Her accolades include being named one of five “Creatives That Rocked 2022” by Those Guys (Botswana) and her selection as a Top 100 finalist in the 2018 Absa L’Atelier competition.
In addition to her artistic endeavors, Makin contributes to the arts as a tutor and lecturer assistant at the Michaelis School of Fine Art and as an Executive Board Member for the Art Residency Centre (ARC) in Gaborone. She also collaborates remotely with Suburbia Contemporary in Barcelona, supporting their international initiatives. Her engagement extends to panel discussions with institutions such as the British Council and the World Bank Art Program, emphasizing her commitment to dialogues on art and cultural exchange.
