Xolelwa Malinga (b. 2001) is a multidisciplinary artist from Eswatini. Once she attained her Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design, she pursued Fine Arts, developing a practice centered on the Black female form as a vessel of emotional and cultural storytelling. Through painting and experimental approaches to material, she explores how the body can communicate complex inner states — transforming it into both subject and language. Beyond celebration, her work serves a critical purpose: to actively challenge and dismantle societal norms that lead to the objectification of the black female figure. By creating art that honours and appreciates its subject, she directly confronts the pervasive sexualization perpetuated by the legacies of colonialism and modern media, advocating for a new perspective.

Malinga has presented her work across international and regional platforms, including Art Connects Women in Dubai, Miami Art Week, RMB Latitudes Art Fair in Johannesburg, and the HEAT Festival in Cape Town. Her practice has also been recognised through the WORLDART10 competition by Worldart Gallery, where she was selected as one of the winners. Alongside her artistic practice, she has participated in the African Female Artist Mentorship Program (AFAMP) 2025/2026 cohort, further contributing to her development within the contemporary African art landscape.