Khamxae QGAM

BOTSWANA, B. 1977

Khamxae QGAM was born in 1977 on a farm near D’kar, Botswana. She is the daughter of the late artist Dada Coex’ae Qgam, one of the pioneering artists associated with the Kuru Art Project. Growing up on the farm, Khamxae’s creativity emerged from an early age. She fondly remembers making small dolls from pieces of fabric and wool, finding joy in creating with whatever materials were available. She completed her primary education at D’kar Primary School before attending Morakanelo Community Junior Secondary School in Nojane, where she completed Forms 1 and 2. During her school years, she particularly enjoyed mathematics and languages. Some of Khamxae’s earliest memories are of watching her mother begin her artistic journey. She was captivated by the vibrant colours and flowing beadwork-inspired patterns that became a distinctive feature of her mother’s paintings. Eager to paint herself, she was told that when she was older, she too could become an artist. She also remembers the day her mother returned home with extra food, explaining that she had earned money by selling her artwork. Witnessing how art enabled her mother to provide for their family left a lasting impression and inspired Khamxae to follow a similar path. In 2026, Khamxae fulfilled a lifelong dream by joining the Kuru Art Project as an artist. Her paintings celebrate the stories passed down by her ancestors, alongside the animals and plants of the Kalahari veld that have shaped her life and identity. Like her mother, she is deeply drawn to the beauty of traditional beadwork motifs, finding endless inspiration in their vibrant colours, rhythmic forms, and flowing patterns. Khamxae also treasures memories of listening to her mother’s stories after returning from exhibitions and travels abroad. Those stories sparked a dream that continues to inspire her own artistic journey. Through her work, she hopes not only to share the rich cultural heritage of her people with audiences around the world but also, one day, to follow in her mother’s footsteps by travelling internationally and exhibiting her art beyond Botswana.