About
kyle malanda (b. 1994) is a Malaŵian visual artist whose work explores identity at the intersections of sexuality, indigenous spirituality, and mortality. Her struggle with identity manifests through depictions of Black faceless feminine figures, depersonalising and anonymising the primary subject of her work--herself.
kyle's current focus is on figurative, hand-tufted yarn "paintings", created in her signature 3D relief embroidery style, employing a range of traditional and modified carpetry and hand-embroidery techniques. Referencing motifs rooted in Ngonde ontology, ethnobotany, and the realm of lucid dreams, kyle’s works are an invitation into her surrealist inner world, where reality stretches beyond what the eye can see. All textiles are based on self-portrait photographs.
kyle is a 2025 Pro Helvetia Artist in Residence and 2022 Prince Claus SEED Awardee. Her works have been exhibited in Africa, the US, and Europe. She co-founded and co-curated RETROSPECT— a digital retrospective exhibition for queer African artists.
kyle lives and works between Lilongwe and San Francisco.