Karabo Poppy
Karabo Poppy is a multi-award-winning South African illustrator, graphic designer and street artist whose bold, African-centred work has appeared with global brands like Nike, Google, Netflix and Calvin Klein.
Brand Story
Karabo Poppy is the creative brand of Karabo Poppy Moletsane, a South African illustrator, graphic designer and street artist born in 1992 in Vereeniging and based in Johannesburg.
A graduate of the Open Window Institute with a BA in Visual Communication, Karabo Poppy is known for her distinctive visual language rooted in African aesthetics, contemporary colour palettes and bold, graphic storytelling.
Her work spans illustration, murals, brand collaborations, editorial art and digital campaigns, with projects for clients including Nike, Google Doodles, Netflix, Calvin Klein and Rich Mnisi.
In 2015, she formalised her practice into a business, initially trading as Mother Tongue – Creative House and now operating under her own name as a globally recognised African creative brand.
Why It Exists
Karabo Poppy’s brand exists to preserve and celebrate the African aesthetic through contemporary illustration and design, while creating visible pathways for African creatives on the global stage.
The brand was created to respond to the under-representation of African narratives in mainstream visual culture and to prove that African-centred art can lead global campaigns and collaborations.
Through commissions, collaborations and mentorship, Karabo Poppy inspires a new generation of illustrators and designers to embrace their heritage as a source of creative power and opportunity.
To tell bold, authentic African stories through illustration and design, elevating African aesthetics and creating opportunities for creatives across the continent and beyond.
Founder & Key People
Karabo Poppy Moletsane
Founder & Creative DirectorKarabo Poppy Moletsane is the founder and creative director behind the Karabo Poppy brand, a multi-award- winning practice in illustration, graphic design and street art.
She has won multiple Loerie Awards, contributed to a Grammy- nominated music video (“Makeba” by Jain), illustrated the International Women’s Day Google Doodle and created artwork for Nike, including shoes worn by LeBron James.
Karabo Poppy was also the first Black woman artist to paint the Art Wall at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive in California, and is known for iconic works such as the Soweto Towers mural in Johannesburg.
Achievements & Recognition
Karabo Poppy has earned recognition for her contribution to African illustration, design and street art, and for placing African visual narratives in global campaigns and cultural spaces.
2024 Top Creative & Arts Brand
Karabo Poppy was recognised as the Top Creative & Arts Brand at the 2024 Top 16 Youth-Owned Brands Awards.
Global Collaborations & Awards
Her work has been featured with Nike, Google, Netflix, Calvin Klein and Rich Mnisi, and she has won multiple Loerie Awards while contributing to Grammy-nominated projects and major international murals and exhibitions.
What They Do
Karabo Poppy creates illustration, graphic design and street art projects for brands, campaigns, editorials and public spaces, centring African aesthetics and contemporary visual storytelling.