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The Africa Salon at Keyes Art Mile's Gallery 1 (sponsored by Amex in partnership with IQOQO) celebrates established and emerging creative talent in Africa. More than a group exhibition, this so-called "urban festival" is brought to life by a rich line-up of events.
Described as "a vibrant ode to diverse African cultural identities, geographies, bodies, and voices", expressions in visual art, music, performance, and literature all form part of The Africa Salon, curated by Madlozi Contemporary Art founder Beathur Mgoza Baker.
12 artists from six African countries coalesce in this exhibition, exploring themes such as cultural identity, spirituality, and modernity vs tradition. Nandipha Jantjies, George Masarira, Ben Agbee, and Lulama Nontshintshi are among these.
"Collectively the artists in the exhibition contribute to the shared vision of a borderless and prosperous Africa – a future-focussed continent in confluence where dreams are not deferred in favour of survival and creative possibility is rewarded and expressed in our words and image. [...] The artists facilitate unique insights into the diversity and true complexity of what constitutes identifying as African," reads the exhibition text.
The Africa Salon also includes installation works by two of the 2024 Sasol New Signatures winners, Snelihle Maphumulo and Tandabantu Matola, previously on show at the Pretoria Art Museum.
Highlights include an exclusive live art performance by Neo Theku, an art lovers and collectors cocktail mixer, and the Africa Live, Now Expression Sessions – a unique gathering and hangout bringing together young creatives and collectives in Joburg from visual artists to designers, musicians, DJs, photographers, and filmmakers in the spirit of a united African creative community. Find the details below and follow Madlozi Contemporary Art on Instagram or Facebook for updates.
Dates to diarise
The Africa Salon opens as part of Keyes Art Night on Thu, Nov 7 at Gallery 1 at Keyes Art Mile, and runs until Tue, Dec 31.Sat, Nov 9 from 11:00 – 14:00 – Gauteng-based art lovers including the ART STOKVEL connect at a spring brunch and mixer over bubbly, fresh fruit cocktails, and live music from around the continent. Stay on for the special artist-led talks and an exhibition walk-through. RSVP with madloziart@outlook.com.
Sat, Nov 9 from 11:30 – 12:30 – Artists Nandipha Jantjies and Neo Theku lead a walkabout and interactive talk around tradition, notions of modernity, and contemporary cultural identity in South Africa.
Sat, Nov 9 from from 12:30 – 13:30 – See artist and photographer Neo Theku's debut live art performance for the critically acclaimed work O Kae Ntatao? Where is your father? at MESH Club. RSVP with madloziart@outlook.com.
Sat, Nov 16 from 11:00 – 12:00 – Artists Lisolomzi Pikoli and George Masarira discuss their artistic praxis, the influence of digital culture and graphic art on their work, and how they respond to popular culture by reimagining traditional forms and mediums of art-making. Includes live drawing and product demos.
Sat, Nov 16 from 12:15 – 13:00 – Join The Africa Salon curator Beathur Mgoza Baker for an interactive, guided walkabout of the exhibition and a conversation creative Africa now, the postcolonial gaze, and creating new narratives in the age of digital culture.
Sat, Nov 30 from 13:00 – 16:00 – For music lovers, join artist and DJ Pikoli and other DJs in the Africa Live, Now Expression Session as they celebrate Africa and explore the influence of traditional and contemporary culture on art, music, and identity. Bring your friends to this urban culture hangout.
Thu, Dec 5 from 18:00 – 21:00 – In festive December spirit The Africa Salon exhibition rounds off the year with THE AFRICA MASSIVE, an art mixer and music celebration of contemporary Africa with all the sounds you love and artists in attendance.
Space is limited, and all events are subject to capacity. For enquiries, contact madloziart@outlook.com.
