In 2007, artist Patrick Rorke spent a short but transformative period at an artist residency in Les Olives, Spain. There, he felt an undeniable calling to return to Lesotho, the country of his birth, to establish a similar space for artists. Three years later, in 2010, he and his wife left Johannesburg and returned to Morija, setting out on the challenging journey of creating an artist residency.
Finding and securing the right site was no easy feat. After years of dedication, Rorke finally found the perfect location in Maloaleng, where he has been building ever since. Now, the residency is nearing completion, with a communal studio underway that will accommodate artists working in animation, painting, jewellery making, and sculpture. The vision is for this space to become a hub for creative exchange, where local and international artists can collaborate, learn, and inspire each other.
For Rorke, the land itself is a gift. While Morija presents challenges for builders due to unstable terrain, for potters, it is paradise. “There’s clay everywhere,” he says. Running through the heart of Morija is the River of Love, or Lu Pena la Lerato, where he digs his clay. “Clay is the gold here as far as I’m concerned. The quality of clay is out of this world, absolutely unbelievable.”
Beyond being a space for artistic creation, the residency is driven by a deeper purpose – to nurture creative thinking among Lesotho’s youth. Visiting artists will be encouraged to run workshops in local schools, introducing artistic concepts into a curriculum that struggles to incorporate them. By engaging young minds, Rorke hopes to foster innovation and problem-solving skills, equipping students with tools to carve their own paths in the world.
“This is my main drive,” he explains. “There’s an awful amount of work to be done here to produce creative thinkers who can come up with real solutions for Lesotho.”
With growing interest from artists worldwide, the Maloaleng Artist Residency is quickly becoming a reality. “My dream is unfolding,” Rorke reflects. “I find myself profoundly lucky that what I’m doing is exactly what I believe I should be doing. I just hope the residence is up before I go down.”
Applications for the Maloaleng Artists Residence will open in October 2025. Join a growing network of art and ideas.
Experience the vision behind the Maloaleng Artist Residency firsthand. Watch this video capturing Rorke’s dream come to life:
For more information or to get involved, contact Patrick Rorke at prorke@gmail.com
Video credits:
Directed by: Annalet Steenkamp
Director of Photography: Jonathan Pinkhard
Editor: Jonathan Pinkhard
Final Audio Mix: Sound Patch Studio
