Artist in the kitchen

Artist in the Kitchen: An Immersive Afternoon with Joel Mamboka

Step into the studio, connect with the design process, and taste the world of dynamic Congolese flavors.

Join visionary designer and artist Joel Mamboka for an intimate experience that dissolves the boundaries between creative studio and delicious kitchen. This exclusive, hands-on event is a celebrated satellite for Design Week South Africa 2026, offering a rare window into the imagination and practical applications of his unique, multi-disciplinary practice.

Experience a Fusion of Creative Energy

Part open studio, part masterclass, and part culinary journey, "Artist in the Kitchen" is designed for those who appreciate design from its origins and understand that flavor is as much an art form as form and color.

What to Expect:

• Open Studio and Curator Talk: Get unparalleled access to Joel's inner sanctum. Explore works-in-progress, finished prototypes, and the collected inspirations that drive his innovative furniture and textile design. He will share his philosophy and current design experiments.
• Workshop: Design and Flavor : Participate in a collaborative workshop that explores creative process and translation. Learn how Joel incorporates narrative and cultural history into visual language, then apply similar principles to a tactile design exercise.
• A Congolese Food Experiment : The event culminates in the kitchen. Not a lecture, but an experiment. Guided by Joel and using family recipes, we will explore the key ingredients, aromatics, and techniques that define vibrant Congolese cuisine. You will help prepare, and everyone will share, a sequence of unique, bold, and modern dishes, discovering how traditional food systems can inspire sustainable, future-forward design.
• This is more than an event ; it's an opportunity to discover how a unified vision can create both objects of desire and moments of joyful connection. Spaces are limited for this special engagement.