Works on Paper

the gallery is pleased to present Works on Paper, a group exhibition that explores this versatile material. The exhibition highlights the dynamic relationship between the artist, the medium, and the surface.

Featuring: Stephen Allwright, Deborah Bell (In collaboration with David Krut Projects), Vanessa Cowling, Sam Kentridge, Balekane Legoabe, Janet Mbirimi (In collaboration with Warren Editions), Mongezi Ncaphayi (In collaboration with Artist Proof Studio). 

Each artist has a unique connection with their chosen surface, particularly with paper—one of the most unassuming and universal foundations for creating. In everyday life, paper often appears in ephemeral forms, such as tissues, disposable containers, bags or newspapers. Yet in art, paper transforms into something more enduring: a repository for ideas, a place for transitions, and even a symbol of absence. As a medium, it serves as both a space for contemplation and a tool for expression, transmitting voices, stories, histories, and dreams while offering a glimpse into the artist's evolving narrative.

Despite their varied approaches, all the artists in this exhibition share a common thread: the use of paper to record experiences. We invite viewers to connect with the artist's inner world through the quiet yet powerful medium of paper.

A catalogue of works can be found here.

Untitled, 2023, Archival Pigment on Hahnemuhle paper, Vanessa Cowling

Hallowed Ground

Welcome to "Hallowed Ground," an exhibition that brings together the diverse yet converging practices of artists Hedwig Barry, Fanie Buys, and John Phalane. This collection invites viewers to explore themes of grounding and groundlessness, the roles of tradition and modernity, and the interplay between personal and collective recall.

Hedwig Barry delves into the metaphors of "grounding" and "groundlessness" through a language of abstraction. Her work deeply engages with the historical weight of painting and its connections to nature, empire, modernity, and Western aesthetics. Barry's practice is a convergence of the personal and public, the emotional and intellectual, and the various elements—bodies, grounds, materials, desires, and gestures—that imbue these relationships with meaning.

Fanie Buys, a South African artist based in London, adopts a figurative style to examine the role of traditional portraiture in contemporary society. By utilizing found images, AI, and unconventional subject matter, Buys approaches painting as a performative meditation that reveals hidden, often tongue-in-cheek meanings. His works prompt a reconsideration of the act of painting and its place in the modern world.

John Phalane presents richly textured drawings that operate within multiple and shifting dimensions. His works depict urban and residential districts in flat, squared representations reminiscent of street maps, but are disrupted by blue horizons and distorted perspectives. Traffic lights and other familiar urban elements bend and transform, creating a sense of familiarity and nostalgia. Phalane's drawings engage with the processes of remembering and recounting, exploring how personal memories and images of places change when shared with others.

"Hallowed Ground" offers a space for reflection on the intersections of personal and collective experience, tradition and innovation, and the many ways in which we navigate and interpret the world around us.

A catalogue of works can be found here.

Lifeguard’s Last Lap, Gouache on 300gsm Bockingford, Fanie Buys

Collection

Welcome to "Collection," a group exhibition in the gallery which celebrates the power of gathering, where individual works converge to showcase a myriad of perspectives. From bold abstractions to delicate depictions, the artworks chosen present a kaleidoscope of themes and techniques.

"Collection" invites you to explore the intersection of tradition and innovation, as artists redefine boundaries and challenge perceptions.

Join us on a journey through this curated ensemble.

A catalogue of works can be found here.

Untitled (Garden Furniture), Hand-printed Silver Gelatin print on Cotton Rag, Nicole Clare Fraser

Change of Season

The title of the group exhibition, Change of Season, is derived from the work of the same name created by Sitaara Stodel. In the presented artworks, one encounters different perspectives on adaptability and the profound beauty found within the ceaseless dance of change.

Using a diverse array of mediums, from prints to drawings to paintings to sculpture, the artists delve into nuanced shifts of seasons, both literal and metaphorical. Each artwork offers a unique perspective on the theme of transformation. A reminder that change is not only inevitable but also a source of growth and beauty in our lives.

A catalogue of works can be found here.

Wonder again, Etching with chine-collé and watercolour, Balekane Legoabe (In association with Eleven Editions)

Editions

Integral to many artists' practices, prints, encompassing various techniques like etchings, lithographs, woodcuts, and more, are celebrated for their ability to transcend disciplines and convey messages in ways distinct from other art forms.

Far from being a limitation, the fact that prints exist in series enhances their impact. In the realm of print, having a work as part of a series amplifies its significance. As artists continue to explore new technologies, materials, and modes of presentation, the world of print has undergone unexpected transformations.

While some artists remain rooted in traditional printmaking modalities, others push the boundaries of what constitutes a "print," embracing hybrid processes that incorporate digital photo-based imaging, sculpture, performance, video, installation, painting, and drawing.

Embracing both established and experimental techniques, the exhibition showcases the rich diversity of printmaking in South Africa today.

A catalogue of works can be found here.

Dancing vase, Linocut, Boemo Diale

Embodied Narratives

Perspectives from Vanessa Cowling, Nicole Clare Fraser, Olivié Keck, and Thanduxolo Nombali Phakathi.

Join us on a journey into the narratives woven by four female artists— Vanessa Cowling, Nicole Clare Fraser, Olivié Keck, and Thanduxolo Nombali Phakathi. "Embodied Narratives" not only showcases their distinct artistic voices but also delves into the realms of identity, memory, and personal histories. Through their lens, these artists invite us into an exploration of the human experience, shedding light on the nuances of existence and the intricate tapestry of emotions that bind us together.

The exhibition offers a space for reflection and connection. As we navigate the multifaceted stories within these artworks, we are compelled to confront our own narratives and, in doing so, find common threads that bind us in our humanity.

A catalogue of works can be found here.

Beauty Sleep, oil monotype, Olivié Keck

Summer Ease

"A celebration of screenprints produced by 50ty/50ty in collaboration with local artists, illustrators and designers."  

The exhibition title has been taken from the screenprint of the same name by Alexia Vogel. Through a collection of meticulously crafted screenprints, we invite you to immerse yourself in a world of vivid colours, intricate patterns, and evocative imagery that encapsulates the joyous energy of the summer season. Join us as we embark on a visual journey, where every print unveils a story of warmth, nostalgia, and the timeless allure of summer's bliss.

Driven by a desire to see more affordable, high-quality, collectible artwork on the market, creators of Black River Studio, Wim and Jeanne Legrand, established 50ty/50ty: an online collection of limited-edition screenprints created in collaboration with local artists, illustrators, and designers.

50ty/50ty allows local creatives to handprint high-quality fine art prints on archival paper. However, they maintain exclusivity through the limited editions of prints available: no more than 50 prints are produced. Wim utilizes his experience as a printmaker to work closely with each artist from initial concept through to final print, ensuring integrity of quality throughout the screen printing process.

A catalogue of works can be found here.

Summer Ease, Screenprint, Alexia Vogel

Memory, history, geography

Memory, history, and geography are interconnected elements that play a pivotal role in shaping our identity. They are intricately woven into the fabric of human civilization, influencing how we evolve, how societies remember their past, and how physical landscapes become repositories of both historical events and shared narratives.

Memory, intertwined with history, is not a static recollection but a dynamic process shaped by cultural, societal, and individual perspectives.

History shapes the consciousness of individuals and societies, influencing how they perceive themselves and their place in the world.

Geography, the study of Earth's landscapes, has its own influence over the course of history and memory. Landscapes provides the backdrop for historical events that will imprint and forge itself into our memory.

"Resonance of Place"
The exploration of memory, history, and geography offers a well of inspiration for artistic expression. We invite visitors to reflect on the interconnectedness of these elements and their role in shaping the human experience. As you navigate the artworks, you will embark on a voyage that transcends time and place, illuminating the delicate threads that bind us to our past, our memories, and the landscapes that hold the echoes of both.

A catalogue of works can be found here.

Untitled, “Figure on grey”, mixed media on paper, Anthony Scullion

Connections

Noun – a relationship in which a person or thing is linked or associated with something else.

From painting to printmaking, collage and drawing, the variety of work reflects the diverse perspectives of the featured artists. A celebration of the connections between seemingly disparate works that resonate with one another in various ways.

“Part of the mystery of art lies in what, as viewers, we connect with, and part is in the artist’s domain to have made that mysterious spark possible.” David Remfry, RA

A catalogue of works can be found here.

Folding, Colour pencil on paper, Chloë Reid.

Drawing Now

This exhibition presents over 20 recent works on paper, created using a diverse range of mediums, including pen and ink, colour pencil, graphite, charcoal, lithography crayon, collage, and felt tip.

While the drawings vary in technique, medium, size, scale, and imagery, they share a common impulse. They don’t limit themselves to aesthetics and theory, but also draw inspiration from the world around us, communicating information, telling stories, and conjuring up new, imagined worlds. A catalogue of works can be found here.

“Portrait with towel and dog”, 2022, Ink, watercolour and graphite on paper, Stephen Allwright.

Multiples

The gallery is pleased to present Multiples, a group exhibition featuring limited edition prints.

This exhibition brings together a group of over 15 artists. Demonstrating the breadth and variety of different printing processes, included in the exhibition are screen prints, monotypes, etchings, wood cuts, lithographs.

Through their wide range of production and dissemination, prints and multiples are arguably the most democratic of art forms. A catalogue of works can be found here.

Sanctuary, Silkscreen on silver, Faith XLVII.

The Shelf Show

The Shelf Show is a group exhibition curated by the atelier and Balekane Legoabe, featuring works by Cathy Abraham, Dale Lawrence, Fanie Buys, Hedwig Barry, Neil Badenhorst, Pule Ratsoma, Sam Kentridge, Chloe Reid and Balekane Legoabe. A catalogue of works can be found here.

From The Magazine

From The Magazine is a duo exhibition curated by the atelier and Balekane Legoabe. This exhibition features works by Anico Mostert and Nano Le Face. A catalogue of works can be found here.

John Phalane

John Phalane uses colour pencils and ballpoint pen to create vivid geographical drawings and architectural impressions that bend conventional perspective. He started making art in 2004, having spent 16 years as a driver for the Inanda Polo Club and several years after that as a taxi driver between Polokwane and Musina.

Phalane now lives in Mamabolo, Limpopo.

Please see the catalogues for Phalane’s drawings below:

MAPS

MINES

HOTELS

between image and text

Between Image and Text considers the interplay of visual images and written text with a selection of works by Boemo Diale, Sam Kentridge, Nano Le Face, Seth Pimentel, Chloe Reid and prints by Artthrob, David Krut Projects and The Artists’ Press.

The artists featured in this exhibition use the powerful pairing of image and text to investigate and express the Kaleidescopic nature of the human experience. Each work presents the viewer with a different facet of identity. 

Between Image and Text is an exploration of our relationships with space, time, nature, structure, separation and connection. 

A catalogue of works can be found here.

the late summer exhibition

“Green was the silence, wet was the light” Pablo Neruda, Sonnet XL

The Late Summer Exhibition, curated by the atelier and Balekane Legoabe, showcases over 20 works, from painting and drawing to printmaking.

The show includes works by:

Faith XLVII, Garth Meyer, Hedwig Barry, Kemang Wa Lehulere, Nina Torr, Pule Ratsoma, Rebecca Haysom, Robyn Penn, Sam Nhlengethwa and Vanessa Cowling

Prints included in the exhibition are from the following studios:

David Krut Projects, edition~verso, 50ty50ty and The Artist’s Press.

The work is not necessarily related, but the links and interconnections are manifold.

A catalogue of works can be found here.

tongues

tongues

An exhibition about code-switching curated by Kundai Moyo and Chloë Reid

With work by

NOLAN OSWALD DENNIS
ADRIAN FORTUIN
NATHAN GATES
TZUNG-HUI LAUREN LEE
LEBOGANG MOGUL MABUSELA (monotypebabe)
NABEEHA MOHAMED
PEBOFATSO MOKOENA
PULE RATSOMA
SITAARA STODEL
XHANTI ZWELENDABA

tongues brings together the work of 10 artists to think through the process of alternating from one language or code to another.

Borne out of necessity and applied as a means of gaining visibility and recognition within a social, political or professional context, code-switching is also exercised to tactical and creative ends.

This exhibition considers the ways in which code-switching becomes a means of expressing multiple subjectivities, recognising the loaded significance that the term carries in relation to language, race and class, and the direct implications it has for self-expression, social acceptance and identity.

For more information, contact: info@gallerygallery.co.za

A catalogue of works can be found here.

tongues is a project by gallery, gallery.

Xhanti Zwelendaba, isiXhosa 2nd Additional Language (How to Click), 2015, video, 1:30 min (still from video)

the world

the world

John Phalane and Daniel Malan

1 May 2021

the world pairs new work by Daniel Malan with existing work by John Phalane.

Daniel Malan (b. 1991, Cape Town) uses video from IP cameras around the world as reference material for detailed and kinetic chalk pastel drawings. John Phalane (b. 1957, Tzaneen, Limpopo) uses colour pencils to create vivid geographical drawings and architectural impressions that bend conventional perspective. The exhibition speculates on the manipulation of physical space in their respective practices.

A series of works by Kundai Moyo titled Stranger Studies will be shown in the interim space between the atelier and the gallery. The series sets out to foreground human connection through the construction of scenarios that allow for moments of fleeting intimacy between strangers in public spaces.

A catalogue of works can be found here. For more information contact: info@gallerygallery.co.za

Daniel Malan, Johannesburg Spazashop, 2021, chalk pastel on paper, 110 x 110 cm

holdfast

holdfast 

1. something to which something else may be firmly secured

2. a part by which a plant clings to a flat surface

3. an organ by which a parasitic animal attaches itself to its host

An exhibition about hands and holding curated by Kundai Moyo and Chloë Reid featuring work by Bianca Baldi and Bridget Baker, Natasha Brown, Katharien de Villiers, Thulile Gamedze, Nathan Gates, Hemali Khoosal, Dale Lawrence, Siyabonga Mahlaba, Daniel Malan, Kundai Moyo, Björn Perborg and Jonah Sack. 

Refer to the complete catalogue here.

image from: Act 1: Aerolithe Illusion (Bureau de Cinema Africain)  publication by Bridget Baker & Bianca Baldi, 2013

proxies

proxies, curated by Nabeeha Mohamed, Kundai Moyo and Chloë Reid, considers the persistence of flowers in contemporary South African art through the work of Fanie Buys, Erin Chaplin, Mia Chaplin, Githan Coopoo, Vanessa Cowling, Grace Cross, Ian Grose, Nonzuzo Gxekwa, Swain Hoogervorst, Nabeeha Mohamed, Anna Sango, Brett Seiler and Shakil Solanki.

Refer to the complete catalogue here.

Untitled, Nonzuko Gxekwa, 2020 inkjet print on fibre-based baryta paper, Edition of 8 + 1AP 419 x 290 mm