Joburg’s contemporary art scene is one of the city's most enlivening aspects. Thirty years ago this city emerged from relative apartheid isolation and today Joburg is grabbing headlines for its flourishing art scene and rise to prominence of artists, curators and gallerists. Weekly art exhibition openings, artist walkabouts, an exciting street art scene, major art auctions and regular open days at the city's many artist studio collectives make Joburg's art scene an exciting and accessible place to explore.
Here's a look at where to go gallery hopping in Joburg.
Rosebank and Parkwood
Young South African artist and gallerist Banele Khoza opened BKhz Gallery in Braamfontein in 2018 aged just 24 and in January 2021 moved to Keyes Art Mile in Rosebank, one of the most art-centric neighbourhoods in the city. Khoza describes BKhz as a "platform for creatives to showcase their art with a support system", explaining that young black artists like himself, can better reach their potential if supported in the gallery system to make art their full-time practice.
BKhz Gallery at Keyes Art Mile
Everard Read Gallery and Circa Opened in 1913 this is Africa’s oldest commercial art gallery. The gallery moved from Johannesburg’s city centre to its current location in Rosebank in the late 1970s and the building in which it is housed is a celebrated icon of South African post-modern architecture. Across the road is sister gallery, the contemporary landmark Circa Gallery. Both spaces promote an exciting collection of contemporary local artists that include some of the biggest names in South African art at the moment such as Nandipha Mntambo, Blessing Ngobeni and Lady Skollie.
