Nomaza Nongqunga Coupez

Nomaza Nongqunga Coupez (born 1981) is a South African–French cultural entrepreneur, curator and consultant. She is the founder of Undiscovered Canvas, a boutique agency promoting contemporary African artists in Europe, and of the Makwande Art Residency, an initiative supporting African women artists. She previously served on France's Presidential Council for Africa (2017–2018).

Early life and education Nomaza Nongqunga Coupez was born in Ngqeleni, Eastern Cape, South Africa, in 1981. She studied biomedical technology at Bloemfontein Technikon (now Central University of Technology). She moved to France in 2009 and later became a naturalized French citizen, holding dual French–South African nationality.

Career In 2015, she presented her first curated exhibition of African art in France, before founding Undiscovered Canvas, a boutique agency dedicated to profiling African creatives and connecting them to international markets.

Through Undiscovered Canvas she has curated more than 20 exhibitions in France, Spain, the UK, the United States, Nigeria and South Africa, providing visibility for African artists across global markets.

In 2017 she was appointed by French President Emmanuel Macron to the Presidential Council for Africa, where she advised on cultural and educational exchanges between France and African countries.

She has also worked as a consultant with Institut Français and other cultural organizations on Africa–Europe cultural strategy and partnerships.

Makwande Art Residency In 2021, Nomaza Nongqunga Coupez founded the Makwande Art Residency, based in the South of France, to support emerging African women artists. The residency provides mentorship, visibility, and international exhibition opportunities. Past resident artists include Luluma Wolf, Lesego Seoketsa, and Nthabiseng Boledi Kekana, who have since gone on to gain international recognition.

Personal life She lives in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, in the South of France.