WeeklySA_AdminCELEBRATION: The continent’s leading contemporary art fair brought established names, emerging talent and collectors together in Johannesburg for a vibrant showcase of creativity, cultural memory and African artistic expression.
By Jacob Mawela
The 19th edition of FNB Art Joburg lived up to its reputation as Africa’s leading and longest-running contemporary art fair, drawing artists, collectors and art enthusiasts to Johannesburg during the first week of spring.
Staged over three days at the Sandton Convention Centre, the fair showcased some of the foremost contributors to Africa’s contemporary art ecosystem while extending its reach through exhibitions, performances and cultural activations across the city.
The programme began on September 3 with an exclusive media preview of The BMW Art Generation Vol. IV, a two-part exhibition exploring Indigenous Knowledge Systems.
Conceptualised by curator and FNB Art Joburg fair manager Kim Kandan, the exhibition was presented at BMW Art Haus in Parktown North and within the fair’s MAX section at the Sandton Convention Centre.
Now in its fourth year, The BMW Art Generation returned under the theme From Whose Waters Do We Drink? Through contemporary African art, conversation and personal encounter, the exhibition invited visitors to explore the sources of knowledge, creativity and cultural identity.
Its title was inspired by a discussion at a 2025 conference convened to reassess the state of the arts in Africa. During the gathering, National Gallery of Zimbabwe director Raphael Chikukwa challenged delegates to consider the quality and origins of “the waters from which we drink”.
Diverse artists
The exhibition brought together a diverse group of artists, including British-Nigerian sculptor Yinka Shonibare, Zimbabwean painter Portia Zvavahera, South African visual artist Lebohang Kganye and Brazilian artist Paulo Nazareth.
Guests were welcomed by BMW South Africa head of brand Marcelle Duncan before Nicole Siegenthaler, project manager of The BMW Art Generation, conducted a guided walkabout.
A reading room and bookstore curated by Jonathan Ball Publishers complemented the exhibition, offering visitors a selection of books exploring its featured artists and the ideas shaping this year’s theme.
Following the Parktown North tour, members of the media were transported to the Sandton Convention Centre for a preview of the MAX section and the fair’s opening festivities.
The main venue was divided into several curated sections — gallery HUB, MAX, gallery LAB, ARC, ORG, INK and AUX — each presenting a different dimension of contemporary art. These ranged from established galleries and large-scale installations to experimental work, non-profit initiatives and emerging talent.
The BMW Collectors Co. seeks to strengthen the continent’s art market by cultivating a new generation of patrons and expanding support for artists. The BMW Art Generation brings together artists, cultural thinkers and enthusiasts, while Journeys offers international guests privileged access to cultural spaces across sub-Saharan Africa.
Open City, meanwhile, extends the fair beyond its main venue by creating opportunities for cultural practitioners to reach broader audiences across Johannesburg.
This year’s exhibitors reflected the geographical breadth of contemporary African art. They included Galerie Malabo from the Democratic Republic of Congo; Ora Loapi Centre for the Arts and TBP Artist Collective from Botswana; Nigeria’s Wunika Mukan and Yenwa Gallery; Rangi Gallery from Tanzania; Modzi Arts from Zambia; and The Space Ethiopia.
South African exhibitors included Artist Proof Studio, which marked its 35th anniversary with Artist Proof Studio at 35: Archive, Scale and Continuity.
The presentation featured archival works, new editions and ambitious large-format prints reflecting the depth and diversity of the artists who have passed through the renowned Johannesburg printmaking studio.
Among its highlights was Bambo Sibiya’s series of Nelson Mandela portraits, each accompanied by a quotation from the late statesman. One declared: “When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.”
Emerging artist Jason Langa also attracted attention with works including Sisters in the Prairie. An alumnus of the RMB Talent Unlocked programme, the figurative painter and printmaker represents a new generation of artists finding increasingly diverse ways to build sustainable careers.
His presentation at Booth INK 6 drew a steady stream of collectors and curious visitors throughout the fair.
Beyond Sandton, FNB Art Joburg’s programme included the public opening of Lesotho artist Thato Toeba’s solo exhibition, I Beat You Because I Love You, at the Johannesburg Art Gallery.
Rooted in city’s culture
The exhibition, which also formed part of Arts Alive Joburg, examines the complicated coexistence of love and violence, as well as questions of identity, history, power and representation.
Working across collage, photomontage and assemblage, Toeba employs a densely layered visual language that invites viewers to pause and reflect. The artist, lawyer and social sciences researcher attracted several notable visitors, including former Democratic Alliance parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko.
Toeba became the first artist from Lesotho to receive the FNB Art Prize after winning the award in 2025. The jury recognised the clarity, formal maturity and considered pace of their artistic practice.
Now in its 15th year, the FNB Art Prize has developed into an important platform for identifying and supporting significant contemporary artistic practices across Africa.
Although the main fair ran for three days, supporting initiatives such as Journeys and Open City unfolded over longer periods of seven and 16 days respectively, reinforcing the event’s presence across Johannesburg.
This year’s fair also coincided with Johannesburg’s 140th anniversary celebrations — a fitting backdrop for an event deeply rooted in the cultural life of the city.
With another edition successfully completed, founder Mandla Sibeko and his team now turn their attention to FNB Art Joburg’s milestone 20th edition in 2027 and the fair’s expanding influence within Africa’s contemporary art landscape.
