I am Marika Gregory Head Creator of Shongololo Studio,
artist of an unusual kind. I studied art and completed my national N6 Diploma
in Parktown College in 2001. I have always loved art, be it design, painting,
sculpture or drawing even the arts of dancing.
My first art creation that I can
remember being really proud of was at the age of ten, after that there was no
turning back. I completed my studies and then went on to have a couple of small
part time design jobs, and from there worked different account positions,
payroll and HR at TBWA Hunt Lascaris and had a media buying position at OMD
Media Direction, both of these companies falling under the OMNICOM MEDIA GROUP
before finally taking the big leap of faith to establish and create Shogololo
Studio.
I see this new venture as a dream I had put in a little box and buried it deep under the ground and giving up on something I thought over the next 14 years would never become a reality. With my life changing drastically over the next year since August 2012 and people I had met and the inspiration I had drawn from them and their life stories and successes I had realized that one particular person had said something to me over and over again and because I had a plan I was completely at ease and had full confidence that I could do it if i wanted to and made that conscious decision - If you would like to do something you can, just believe in yourself and go out and do it!
I am not just an Artist
I am also a mother to three very beautiful and bright creative minds,
Jessica-Anne (10), Kaelyn (7) and James (3). I have always been a hands-on mom,
and when I am working and creating my beautiful and unusual art work I always
encourage my children to sit and be creative with me. Art is something that not
just teaches my children commitment in the sense to follow through and finish
something to the best of their ability, but it teaches them to think outside
the box. Many people think buying children all they want will keep them happy,
I have found spending quality time with them teaching my skills brings a lot
more joy, and we get to spend quality time together for this is what they will
remember me by.
