Joburg is an art city and every week brings something new to see. Whether it’s exhibitions by young emerging artists, art talks and walkabouts by famous names or live performances and opening night parties, there is no shortage of brilliant art events to experience in this city.
Here’s this week’s pick of the biggest art events to look out for.
OPENING EVENT: Ukwatile?’ by Lebogang Mogul Mabusela
EXHIBITION LAUNCH SAT JULY 9 Lebogang ‘Mogul’ Mabusela tackles misogyny in Joburg in her solo exhibition ‘Ukwatile?’, opening at Stevenson on Saturday July 9. The exhibition is part of Stevenson’s STAGE series, a platform for younger, unrepresented artists. Ukwatile? brings together works from her ongoing series of prints on paper called Johannesburg Words and hand-made sculptures from her body of work called Makoti: A bridal gifts shop. Also on show at the gallery are ceramic works by Hylton Nel. Find out more here.
OPENING EVENT: Flea Market by Kylie Wentzel
EXHIBITION LAUNCH SAT JULY 9 Kalashnikovv Gallery in Braamfontein presents the latest solo exhibition by Durban-based artist Kylie Wentzel. The exhibition opening event takes place from 11:00 until 14:00. Find out more here.
OPENING EVENT: On Soft Ground by Heidi Fourie
EXHIBITION LAUNCH SAT JULY 9 Talented Pretoria-based painter Heidi Fourie recently returned to the medium of drawing during a short-term residency at the David Krut Workshop in Arts On Main. In this exhibition she shows the new large-scale drawings and a series of soft-ground etchings that resulted from the residency. Join the artists at the gallery at The Blue House at 151 Jan Smuts Avenue for a Q&A with the artist from 10:00. Find out more here.
OPENING EVENT: Miniatures in Print by The Printing Girls
EXHIBITION LAUNCH SAT JUL 9 The Printing Girls is a collective of all women artists who work in printmaking techniques. The collective launches an exhibition of new small artworks at Gallery 2 on Jan Smuts Avenue in Parkwood on Sat July 9 including a printmaking demo at 12:00 by artist and printmaker Cloudia Rivett-Carnac from Chocolate Ink Studio.
EXHIBITION: JH Pierneef: En Route at Strauss & Co
ON SHOW UNTIL JULY 11 Strauss & Co auction house presents a stunning exhibition of the works of JH Pierneef at their gallery and showroom in Houghton ahead of a live auction dedicated solely to Pierneef works on July 12. The collection on sale includes paintings, linocuts, etchings, drawings and watercolours from various eras in the artist’s career. The exhibition is open daily (until 13:00 on weekends). Find out more here.
EXHIBITION: Zandile Tshabalala’s ‘Lovers in a secret place’
ON SHOW UNTIL AUG 10 Don’t miss this sensational exhibition by the emerging artist Zandile Tshabalala at BKhz gallery at Keyes Art Mile in Rosebank. An intimate and introspective portraiture exhibition that vividly captures black life and self-love, the installation at the gallery itself is also outstanding with the entire space transformed into a garden with the help of the team from JFF Rooftop Farm. The gallery is open Monday to Saturday. Find out more here.