The Team

EDWARD SELEMATSELA – Founder, Chairman and Art Teacher

Edward is a renowned artist from Ga Modjadji in the Limpopo province of South Africa and the Founder of Little Artists. He studied art and business at Eastside College and UNISA. Art collectors from Dubai, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Namibia, USA, Mozambique, Colombia, Angola, Netherlands, Germany and England, have invested in his work.

NDIVHUO MUNUNGUFHALA – Office Administrator

Ndivhuo Munungufhala is a Johannesburg-based Arts Administrator and Education Facilitator with a strong focus on visual arts development. After her matriculation she obtained certificates in call centre operations, printmaking, video production and bookkeeping. She volunteers part of her time at the Little Artists School Project where she serves as an administrator, with a focus that is resolute in the development goal of training young aspiring artists. She has been a representative assisting artists at The Turbine Art Fair, Johannesburg Art Fair, Fine Art Print Fair, amongst other exhibitions and festivals.

LESEGO DITSHEGO – Project Administrator

Lesego Ditshego is an active visual artist and printmaker from Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg. After she matriculated she went on to study English Literature and Communication Sciences, but soon found her way to the visual arts and later graduated from the Artist Proof Studio in Johannesburg as a professional printmaker.

NDITSHENI MANAGA – Studio Manager

Nditsheni Managa is a practicing visual artist from the village of Ha-Matsa in Nzhelele, Limpopo in South Africa. He is a volunteer at the Little Artists School with the life goal of teaching children to discover their inner artist.

SHARON BANNER – Volunteer Fundraising Manager

Sharry’s journey with the Little Artists School began in 2017 when she placed a bid on a painting by Jabu Radebe at a fundraising event. Her bid was unsuccessful, so she followed up the next day with the project founder, Edward Selematsela, as she was intent on finding out more about the initiative. This meeting laid the foundation for her to become a meaningful member of the team.

Amongst many fundraising initiatives, Sharry has been instrumental in securing a large studio for Little Artists in Braamfontein, creating a safe environment for the children and the senior artists who teach them. Initially, generous financial support from Charities Unlimited, Vintage with Love and Nando’s made this possible, and more recently another major donor.

CHRISTINE RANDALL – Financial Manager

In 1996, Christine’s neighbour, the late Dulcie Robinson, who was the cofounder of the Little Artists together with Edward Selematsela, invited her to join the board of the Little Artists. At the time she had no idea what she was in for.

Needless to say, she has watched the Little Artists go through many ups and some extremely worrying downs over the years.

Christine has watched many young school-going artists become adults and quite a number have become full-time artists. Virtually only Little Artists’ artworks that she has purchased over the years adorn the walls, not only of her own home, but those of family and countless friends whom she has gifted artworks.

DIANA RICHARDS

Diana is the founder of Ojiji, a program dedicated to empowering African artists and children to build a future through art. She also runs a small art school in Johannesburg and volunteers at The Little Artist School.

Passionate about using art as a therapeutic and empowering tool — especially for underprivileged children, Diana combines creativity with care in all her work.

In addition to her work with Ojiji and the art school, she is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with Honours, deepening her understanding of how art can support emotional healing, self-esteem, and overall well-being.

A passionate advocate for emerging artists and less fortunate children, Diana wishes to inspire, create chances and reach individual dreams, for every artist and child she works with, by connecting them through collaborative art events and sharing their stories with the world.