From “graffiti outlaw” to one of South Africa’s leading artists … That’s the story of Johannesburg’s Sandile Radebe. The young man was once a member of one of the city’s most notorious graffiti crews. Now, Radebe says, he’s transcending the art of graffiti, while still maintaining its essence. In his work he’s also walking a line between art and architecture.
South Africa Graffiti Outlaw Sandile Radebe Now a Top Artist
![Sandile Radebe is now a long way away from his previous life as a graffiti renegade on the streets of Johannesburg [Photo: Darren Taylor]](https://gdb.voanews.com/6590C21D-916D-4817-A182-C2D95463B7BA_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
1
Sandile Radebe is now a long way away from his previous life as a graffiti renegade on the streets of Johannesburg [Photo: Darren Taylor]
![The King Kong mural was based on the album cover of the 1950s South African hit musical, also called King Kong (S. Radebe)](https://gdb.voanews.com/0B74D087-BB21-4E23-8DCF-9214502242A8_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
2
The King Kong mural was based on the album cover of the 1950s South African hit musical, also called King Kong (S. Radebe)
![The mural he created for the King Kong jazz club in Johannesburg (S. Radebe)](https://gdb.voanews.com/95CBC7FC-2B13-494F-9529-A0AA17B452AE_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
3
The mural he created for the King Kong jazz club in Johannesburg (S. Radebe)
![He’s now using cardboard to create his art, and is blurring the boundaries between art and architecture (S. Radebe)](https://gdb.voanews.com/604D638E-6976-457B-A9A4-74A5E847FDA1_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
4
He’s now using cardboard to create his art, and is blurring the boundaries between art and architecture (S. Radebe)