Tumo Mere, a Motswana illustration and concept artist; shared his journey of hope, dreams and growth as he continues to break barriers from starting with a blank page to working with international game studios such as Surgent Studios. An artist striving to bring digital art to the forefront of the nation’s art scene.
“It all starts with a simple idea, a vision in my head for a solution to a fantastical problem. From there I begin a journey of seeking out things within this world that can be used as reference to bring out the vision in my head. Then I get to the truly fun part and begin to bring the world of my imagination to life.”
Mere’s journey into the world of illustration and concept art began long before he knew the names of the fields he would come to master.
“I was first drawn to illustration and concept art when I was a young boy. At the time I did not know they were called that I just really liked the way book covers, movie posters and the behind the scenes drawings in films looked,” he recalled. “As I grew up, I learned not only what they were but how many things were touched by these two fields.”
Today, Mere’s work spans the vibrant realms of fantasy, sci-fi, and beyond, inspired by the animated shows that shaped his childhood. “A lot of the primary influences of my art are the cartoons I grew up watching. From the PowerPuff Girls and Samurai Jack, to Dragon Ball Z and Yu-Gi-Oh!” he shared.
Mere’s impressive resume includes work with major studios like Cubicle 7 and involvement in acclaimed projects such as Tales of Kenzara: ZAU,
To put it into perspective, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU a video game developed by Surgent Studios and published by Electronic Arts under its EA Originals label. Released in 2024, the game draws deep inspiration from African folklore and spirituality, offering a rich, emotional journey grounded in themes of loss, healing, and ancestral legacy. It received widespread praise for its authenticity, emotional depth, and cultural representation. At the 2025 BAFTA Games Awards, the game won a major accolade, further cementing its place as a landmark in showcasing African narratives in global gaming.
“I am fortunate enough to say that I have had the opportunity while working on Tales of Kenzara: ZAU to work directly with African folklore and create a world that was fantastically African,” he stated.
Yet, one recent opportunity stood out as especially rewarding.
“Most rewarding would have to be my most recent. I recently had the opportunity to work with Wizards of the Coast on their IP Magic the Gathering. This was a tremendous opportunity and a personal bucket list studio.”
The difference between creating personal artwork and working on games or films, he explained, lies in whose vision he is realising.
“The primary difference between the two is I’m working to bring someone else’s imagination to life and more so to do so in a way that is commercially resonant. Whereas when creating for myself it’s all about my own personal feeling of expression in that moment.”
As an African artist breaking into the global entertainment industry, Mere has faced his share of challenges. “The biggest challenge I can say is access to the market. Because Africa is a fairly small market on the global scene and African artists in entertainment are an even smaller subsection, breaking into the market has felt like an ongoing lifelong process,” he noted. “Currently the only way that I’ve found to navigate this is to just develop skills that are simply undeniable and place me at a high level internationally.”
Looking to the future, Mere has an enviable list of dream collaborations.
“I have too many to name! I’d love the opportunity to work on a Marvel or Disney film. To work with Riot Games or Blizzard Ent and to work with Games Workshop to name a few.”
For aspiring African artists hoping to follow in his footsteps, Mere offered advice with a humorous twist:
“Don’t! It’s too much fun. You’ll love the projects that you work on too much. You’ll be part of franchises people interact with daily, and you’ll be fulfilled too much of the time! Worst thing about it is it only costs your own time and effort working to raise your skills to an international effort!”
As for those eager to follow his work or seek his guidance, Mere said, “Privileged enough to say ‘just google me’ first 2 links should take you to my portfolio site and my Instagram. As for mentorship, I don’t currently take in mentees but if you reach out to me on Instagram with your work and you’re seeking advice or guidance I’m always willing to help!”
