Maurice Mbikayi was born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. He currently lives and works in South Africa. In 2000 he graduated with a BA in Graphic Design (Advertising and Visual Communication), from the Academies des Beaux Arts in Kinshasa. He completed his Master of Fine Art degree (with distinction) in 2015 at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town.
Mbikayi was selected as one of the finalists of the Luxembourg Art Prize in 2016 and was selected as a core participant in the ‘Between the Lines’ symposium in 2013, an exchange between Michaelis and the Braunschweig University of Art in Germany. He also took part in the Spier Contemporary 2010 biennale presented by the Africa Centre in Cape Town and the Holland Creative Exchange program of 2010-2011. In 2010, he was selected by the Alliance Française for a travelling solo exhibition in South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique. He was awarded a three-month residency at IAAB in Basel, Switzerland by Pro Helvetia South Africa.
He is a member of the Africa South Art Initiative (ASAI) and the Visual Arts Network of South Africa (VANSA).
Mbikayi’s work is included in the permanent collections of Iziko South African National Gallery, the Scheryn Art Collection, Progressive Art Collection, and Yellowwoods Art.