Meshack 'Shakes' Tembani, born in 1975, is a dynamic artist based in New Crossroads, Cape Town. With an extensive educational background in art, marked by numerous diplomas and certificates, Tembani has been an active participant in the art scene since 1999. His career as a full-time artist is distinguished by significant commissions, including mosaic work for the Clock Tower building at the V&A Waterfront, showcasing his versatility and engagement with public art spaces.

Tembani's artistry is characterized by the use of bold color planes that simplify subjects, thereby introducing a vibrant tension that elevates and celebrates the societal roles of his subjects. His work encourages a reflective consideration of the mundane, transforming ordinary scenes, such as groups of people in uniform, into striking, contrasted figures set against vast, unoccupied landscapes.