How Loyiso Mkize Expanded His Global Reach and Solved His Biggest Logistics Challenge With Pigee
Introduction
Loyiso Mkize has become one of the most exciting figures in contemporary African art. His rich, luminous portrait paintings celebrate African identity and the everyday power found within ordinary people. They capture emotion and presence with remarkable sensitivity, combining traditional figurative technique with a vibrant colour vocabulary that is immediately recognisable.
Mkize created the graphic novel character Kwezi, an African superhero now loved by readers around the world. He has exhibited at major galleries and institutions across South Africa, including a headline solo exhibition at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa. His work has attracted global collectors from North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He has received commissions from acclaimed filmmaker Steven Campanelli and collaborated with the Out of Africa Foundation. He has also been shortlisted for the Design Indaba Most Beautiful Object in South Africa award, a significant achievement considering the breadth of creative talent in the country.
Many artists dream of reaching this level of international recognition. Yet with global attention comes a hidden and often overwhelming challenge. The challenge is not creative. It is logistical. How do artists in Africa send fragile, high value, and often large works to collectors around the world without risk, confusion, or endless amounts of administrative work.
This is the part of the art business that few people talk about. It is also the part that can restrict an artist from accessing their full earning potential. Mkize experienced this challenge first hand. Fortunately, he found a solution that has now become essential to his workflow.
The solution is Pigee.
https://pigeepost.com
The Rise of Global Interest in African Contemporary Art
The global art market has seen a significant increase in interest in African contemporary art. According to the 2024 Art Basel and UBS Global Art Market Report, international sales involving African artists grew by more than thirty percent over the previous five years. African art is increasingly represented at major auctions, art fairs, and museum exhibitions. Collectors recognise both the cultural significance and the investment value of contemporary African work.
This surge in demand has created new opportunities for artists like Mkize. Social media has expanded exposure. Galleries in Lagos, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Dakar, Nairobi, Accra, and Addis Ababa now operate in an international ecosystem. European and American collectors routinely purchase directly from African creators. Artists no longer need to relocate abroad to reach global audiences.
However, while the demand is rising, the infrastructure that supports cross border art commerce is still catching up. For many artists, the biggest barrier to fulfilling global demand is not lack of exposure. It is the complex process of transporting art across borders.
The Reality of Shipping Artwork Without Support
High value artwork cannot be shipped the same way as ordinary consumer goods. Paintings require careful preparation, stable temperatures, protective packaging, and reliable carriers who understand fragility. Every piece needs custom documentation. Every country has its own customs regulations. Duties, taxes, tariff codes, and declarations all vary.
Before Mkize adopted Pigee, he had to manage all of this on his own. The process usually involved the following steps:
1. Preparing the artwork
Mkize personally wrapped each painting with acid free materials. He added layers of bubble wrap, cardboard, protective corners, and in some cases constructed reinforced crates. This preparation process could take hours for one artwork.
2. Finding shipping options
He would request quotes from couriers. Sometimes the quotes changed without warning. Sometimes couriers refused because the pieces were considered too large or too fragile. Pricing was unpredictable and often extremely high for international destinations.
3. Communicating with buyers
Collectors wanted to know when the work would ship, what the insurance coverage was, how long customs clearance might take, whether import duties were included, and how to track the shipment. Each sale involved multiple conversations and significant explanation.
4. Completing customs documentation
Every shipment required a commercial invoice, proper classification codes, full descriptions, and declarations of value. Any error could lead to delays, fines, or a return shipment.
5. Tracking and problem solving
If a parcel became stuck at customs, the collector would contact Mkize, who would then need to call the courier, the customs office, or the local branch in the destination country. This could take days to resolve.
Artists are meant to create. Yet many find themselves pulled into an entirely different world. A world of paperwork, shipping labels, duties, insurance forms, and administrative tasks that drain time and energy.
This is the reality thousands of African artists face. It is also the reason many international buyers feel nervous about purchasing directly from artists, even when they want to support them.
How Pigee Entered the Story
Everything changed for Mkize when he discovered the Pigee platform.
https://pigeepost.com
Pigee is an AI powered global shipping assistant created for real world sellers, galleries, artisans, and merchants who need to ship valuable goods without complexity. It was built with particular attention to markets where logistics have traditionally been a barrier to global commerce. Art is one of these markets.
What Pigee Offers Artists
1. Buyers handle their own shipping instantly
Instead of the artist managing quotes and logistics, the buyer can open the Pigee platform and receive instant, real time shipping options from carriers such as DHL, UPS, FedEx, and others. They select their preferred service, pay for it, and generate the required shipping documents.
The artist does not need to negotiate anything.
The buyer takes full control, but the artist retains full clarity.
2. Automatic customs documentation
Pigee automatically generates correct customs forms, including commercial invoices and tariff classifications. This removes the most stressful part of international shipping for artists.
3. Complete insurance coverage
Buyers can insure their piece for the exact declared value. This is essential for artwork and gives both sides peace of mind.
4. Tracking from end to end
Collectors can check their tracking link at any time without disturbing the artist. They see updates from dispatch to delivery.
5. Perfect for fragile and high value pieces
Pigee specialises in large, delicate, or high value items. This includes paintings, sculptures, ceramics, antiques, furniture, artifacts, and luxury goods.
6. No administrative burden
The artist receives more time to create, rest, plan exhibitions, or develop new collections. Pigee handles the entire buyer side process and eliminates needless back and forth.
How Mkize Integrated Pigee Into His Workflow
To understand the impact of Pigee on Mkize’s career, it helps to look at what changed after he started using it.
Before Pigee
- Constant administrative workload
- Unpredictable shipping quotes
- Long communication threads with buyers
- Stress about customs requirements
- Risk of delays or damage
- Lost creative time
- Occasional lost sales due to logistics fears
After Pigee
- Buyers used the Pigee platform for quotes and shipping
- Every shipment included automatic documentation
- Insurance coverage was simple and transparent
- Tracking updates went directly to the buyer
- Mkize regained full days of working time
- International sales increased due to increased buyer confidence
In simple terms, Pigee removed friction.
It allowed Mkize to operate at a global level without needing a logistics department.
Why This Matters for the African Art Scene
The African art market is expanding quickly. Buyers want to connect directly with artists. Social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok have allowed creators to reach international audiences without the traditional gatekeepers. But the shipping barrier often stops sales before they begin.
When artists cannot ship easily, they lose revenue. When buyers feel uncertain about shipping, they hesitate to purchase. This limits the growth of the creative economy.
Pigee is resolving this challenge by giving artists a reliable tool that competes with international gallery infrastructure. The platform supports:
- Independent artists
- Small and medium sized galleries
- Art fairs
- Pop up exhibitions
- Visitors who buy art while traveling
- Collectors who want direct access to creators
By making global delivery simple, Pigee increases the earning potential of African creators. It also improves trust between artist and buyer. Both sides can participate in international commerce without the risk and confusion that previously existed.
A Transformational Shift for Creators
Loyiso Mkize is an excellent example of what becomes possible when logistics are simplified. With Pigee, he can confidently offer international collectors a predictable and professional purchase experience. He no longer has to explain how to ship a painting to London or New York. He no longer has to manually prepare shipping paperwork for Switzerland or Canada. He no longer has to compare rates, contact couriers, or manage tracking updates.
This allows him to spend more time developing new techniques, planning future exhibitions, and expanding his creative legacy. When artists are free from administrative burdens, they produce more work and connect with more collectors. This increases output and economic opportunity for the entire art ecosystem.
How Artists and Galleries Can Start Using Pigee
If you are an artist, gallerist, independent seller, or creative entrepreneur, you can explore Pigee today.
Web platform for galleries and creators
https://account.pigeepost.com
Mobile AI Shipping Assistant
https://pigee.app
The platform is designed to be simple. You can add it to your process within minutes. Once a buyer wants to purchase a piece, you simply send them the link or QR code to your Pigee page. They handle the rest. You receive a confirmation. You attach the label. You hand the piece to the carrier.
Everything else is handled automatically.
Global Collectors
Loyiso Mkize represents the brilliance and potential of African contemporary art. His work celebrates the dignity and spirit of African life and contributes to a growing cultural wave that is capturing international attention. His rise has been driven by talent, dedication, and authenticity. However, even the most gifted artists require infrastructure that supports their business growth.
Logistics can either limit or unlock opportunity. In Mkize’s case, Pigee unlocked it. By simplifying global shipping, automating customs, providing transparent insurance, and giving buyers control over the delivery process, Pigee returned valuable time to the artist and expanded his global reach.
Creativity should not be restricted by paperwork or shipping complications. With platforms like Pigee, artists can operate with confidence, connect with buyers worldwide, and focus on what matters most. They can create, innovate, and build sustainable careers on a global stage.