Biography:
Sindiso Nyoni, also known by his pseudonym R!OT, is a self-taught, multidisciplinary graphic artist, illustrator, and activist born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and based in Johannesburg, South Africa. With a BTech degree in Graphic Design from the University of Johannesburg, Nyoni has worked as both an illustrator and art director within the South African advertising industry. His work explores urgent socio-political issues across Africa using a bold fusion of pencil, ink, pastels, gouache, acrylic, and digital media, creating a signature subversive street-art style.
Nyoni’s work has been exhibited widely, from local platforms to prestigious international venues such as MoMA in Mexico City, The Guggenheim Bilbao, The Vitra Design Museum, and international biennials in cities like New York, London, Berlin, Madrid, and Zagreb. He has contributed to award-winning campaigns and collaborated on projects recognized at Cannes Lions and Clio Awards.
His portfolio includes both commercial and activist-driven work, and he has been involved in shaping design thinking in Africa through mentorship programs, juries, and advisory panels. He has served as a judge for the Loerie Awards and the Botswana-based Ideas Expo, and was part of the Design Indaba mentorship program. He also represented Africa at the International Council of Design's 50th World Communication Design Day showcase and is an ISS Alumni from the African Centre for Peace & Security Training in Addis Ababa.
In recent years, Nyoni has continued to influence the global design community—he was a keynote speaker at the 18th Kyoorius Designyatra Conference in Goa, India (2023), and participated as a keynote speaker and exhibitor at Zgraf 13, the International Exhibition of Graphic Design and Visual Communication, held in Zagreb, Croatia in 2025.
Client List:
Hennessy (France)
Netflix (US)
The South African Mint (SA)
Apple Music (Canada)
Universal Pictures (US)
Converse (SA)
Coca-Cola (SA)
KFC (SA)
HennessyNBA (FRA/US/SA)
NBA Africa (US/SA)
Kirk & Kirk (UK)
Faber & Faber Publishing (UK + US)
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books (US)
Hachette Book Group (US)
ZAM (Netherlands)
Pluto Books (UK)
Centre for Environmental Rights (SA)
Penguin Random House Books (Canada)
Stella Artois (Africa)
Heineken (SA)
Princeton University (US)
Matsuli Records (UK)
Russell Hobbs (SA)
KPMG (Global)
Hollard Group (SA)
FIFA (Switzerland)
Johannesburg Art Gallery – JAG (SA)
Adidas Rugby (South Africa)
Nike Football (South Africa)
Nike Sportswear (South Africa)
Adidas Football (Netherlands)
William Lawson (Russia)
Woolworths (SA)
Mr Price Home (SA)
South African Breweries (SA)
Chiclets (SA, Angola, Mozambique)
KT&G (South Korea)
Edge Events (Belgium)
Absolut Vodka (SA)
Smirnoff (SA)
Nando’s (SA)
Orange Babies (Netherlands)
Jacana Publishing(SA)
Icograda (UK)
Mail&Guardian(SA)
Sunday Times (SA)
Business Arts South Africa
NedBank (SA)
Exxaro (SA)
Vodacom (SA)
World Policy Journal (US)
African Cream Music (SA)
Chimurenga Magazine (SA)
Nokia (SA)
Channel O (SA)
Mr Price Home (SA)
The Times (SA)
Sasol (SA)
Design Indaba (SA)
Hewlett Packard (India)
Microsoft Lumia (SA)
Castrol (SA)
DSTV(SA)
ETV (SA)
Honours & Awards:
2025 – Zgraf International Exhibition of Graphic design and Visual Communications (Zagreb, Croatia) (Participating artist / Keynote Speaker - Zagreb)
2023 – 18th Kyoorius Designyatra Design Conference – Keynote Speaker. (Goa India)
2023 – Basket Ball Without Borders – NBA Africa + NBA Cares Global Community Outreach Initiative (Collaborating artist - Johannesburg)2023 – Clio Awards – Bronze Winner for Eversana Intouch + Global lyme Alliance, New York (Contributing illustrator/artist - New York)
2022 – R!OT By Design – Solo Exhibition Showcase which formed part of Afrovibes Festival of Arts and Performance from and about Africa: Frascati + De Balie (Amsterdam, Netherlands) (Participating artist - Amsterdam)
2022 – In The Paint – Hennessy NBA Global Campaign + Community Initiative (Collaborating artist - Johannesburg)
2021 – Pure Malt, Pure Art – Stella Artois Installation Art Campaign (Johannesburg, South Africa ) (Collaborating artist - Johannesburg)
2020 – The Loerie Awards (2020) - Guest speaker/panelist (South Africa)
2018/2019 - Never Stop Never Settle - Hennessy V.S Africa Global Campaign (Sub-Saharan Africa) (Featuring artist - Zimbabwe/South Africa)
2018– FNB Jo'burg Art Fair: SA Mint Mandela Centenary Coin Series Exhibition (Johannesburg, South Africa) (Participating artist - Johannesburg)
2018– Nelson Mandela Centenary Commemorative Coin series collaboration with The South African Mint (Collaborating artist/designer - South Africa)
2018 – Making Africa – A Continent of Contemporary Design Exhibition: The Albuquerque Museum of Art & History (New Mexico, US)- (Participating artist - New Mexico)
2017– OR Tambo Centenary Commemorative Coin series collaboration with The South African Mint (Collaborating artist/designer - South Africa)
2017– 'Get Out' Movie Premiere Exhibition in collaboration with Universal Pictures (US) (+ The Jordan Peele permanent art collection) (Participating artist - Los Angeles)
2017– SA Mint Krugerrand Golden Jubilee, 50th Anniversary Exhibition: The World Money Fair (Berlin, Germany) (Participating artist - Berlin)
2017– NBA Africa - NBA Sundays Launch Exhibition (+ NBA Africa permanent art collection): (Johannesburg, South Africa)- (Participating artist - Johannesburg)
2017– SA Mint Krugerrand Golden Jubilee, 50th Anniversary Exhibition: FNB Jo'burg Art Fair (Johannesburg, South Africa + The South African Mint permanent art collection) (Participating artist - Johannesburg)
2017 – Making Africa – A Continent of Contemporary Design Exhibition: The High Museum of Art (Atlanta Georgia, US)- (Participating artist - Atlanta)
2017 – Making Africa – A Continent of Contemporary Design Exhibition: The Kunsthal Rotterdam (Rotterdam, Netherlands)- (Participating artist - Rotterdam)
2017– The Art of Living brand campaign/Artist Collaboration, store istallation + appliance customized designs for Russell Hobbs SA - Collaborating Artist - South Africa)
2016 – Making Africa – A Continent of Contemporary Design Exhibition: CCCB: Centre de Cultura Contemporånia de Barcelona Museum (Barcelona, Spain)- (Participating artist - Barcelona)
2015 – Making Africa – A Continent of Contemporary Design Exhibition: Guggenheim Bilbao Museum (Bilbao, Spain)- (Participating artist - Bilbao)
2015 – Making Africa – A Continent of Contemporary Design Exhibition: Vitra Design Museum (Weil am Rhein, Germany)- (Participating artist - Weil am Rhein)
2015 –CoLab brand Artist Collaboration designer blanket range for Mr Price Home SA– (Collaborating artist - South Africa)
2015 – SANAA Africa Festival 2015 Exhibition: (Johannesburg, South Africa)- (Participating artist - Johannesburg)
2014 – Re:Denim brand Artist Collaboration clothing range for Woolworths SA – (Collaborating artist - South Africa)
2014 – Double Trouble Group Exhibition: Kunsthalle M3 (Atelierhaus Mengerzeile, Berlin)- (Participating artist - Berlin)
2014 – ADC: Graphic Advocacy: International Posters for the Digital Age 2001-2012 showcase - (Participating artist - New York)
2014 –Agitators of Conscience - Graphic poster Exhibition (Participating artist - Madrid)
2014 –The Artist As Peacebuilder Course - African Centre for Peace & Security Training - ISS Alumni (Participating artist - Addis Ababa)
2014 – Ideas Expo Conference 2104 - Guest speaker + part of the Judging Panel for the Asegai Advertising Awards – (Gaborone, Botswana)
2013 – The Path Less Deconstructed: Illustration Exhibition at the M Contemporary Gallery, Sydney (Participating artist - Australia)
2013 – The Mandela poster Project 95 Exhibition -( Participating artist – South Africa)
2013 – Icograda 50th / World Communication Design day – Creative Cromwell Billboard showcase ( Participating artist (Africa representative) – London)
2013 – RIOT (Multimedia installation group exhibition): ( Participating artist – Johannesburg)
2013 – Dizajn Afrike (Contemporary design in Africa): Dyalli Association exhibition in Croatia (Participating artist (Zimbabwe representative) – Zagreb)
2012 – Africa Gráfica Group Exhibition – part of the 4th Tenerife Design Festival ( Participating artist – Santa Cruz)
2012 – 1 x Silver Pendoring Award (South Africa)
2012 – 2 x Bronze Loerie Awards (South Africa)
2012 – Art Takes Times Square – Exhibition on New York Times Square (Participating artist – US )
2012 – Absolut Blank SA Launch Event (Participating artist – South African Edition )
2011 – Loeries Finalist (South Africa)
2011 – Bienal Del Cartel : Voices in Freedom- Poster Exhibition (Participating artist – South African Edition )
2011 – Part of the Piñatarama 2 Project / Exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico City – (Mexico)
2010 – Part of the Bienal Del Cartel : Voices in Freedom- (Global) Poster Exhibition (Mexico)
2010 – Cannes International Advertising Awards - Illustration team (Am I Collective) – Gold & Silver (Print) Lion for Marcel Paris (France)
2010 – F.H.C Charity – Beating Hearts (Group Exhibition) – Athens (Greece)
2009 – Cannes International Advertising Awards -Illustration team (Am I Collective) – Bronze (TV) Lion for Ogilvy Amsterdam (Netherlands)