Bheki Myeni was born on 10 October 1954 in Hlabisa, Natal. Myeni's parents died when he was a young boy and he and his brothers moved to Matyana, a village near Empangeni in Natal. Myeni started carving wooden spoons, knives and walking sticks and making clay models when he was in Standard VI, his last year of schooling. His interest in insects, which is expressed in his sculpture, also developed at this time when he used to trace pictures of insects from science textbooks.
In 1985 Myeni travelled to Chile for the opening of the Valparaiso Biennale. He lives in the Empangeni area and is a full-time artist. His work has been shown by the African Art Centre, Things Gallery, Portfolio Art Foundation and NSA Gallery all in Durban, and the Goodman Gallery.
Exhibitions:
1985: Valparaiso, Chile (Biennale).
Awards:
1985: Valparaiso Biennale (sculpture prize).
Collections:
DAM; KC; WITS.
Sack, S. (1988). The Neglected Tradition, Johannesburg: Johannesburg Art Gallery.