Esther Mahlangu’s art moving to Wits Art Museum

The exhibition features over 100 artworks loaned from international collections, including her BMW Art Car, painted mannequins, a TV and a series of prints created by her in collaboration with Nelson Mandela.

Through the presentation of archival material from her illustrious career spanning 50 decades, the retrospective charts her meteoric rise from humble beginnings to becoming an art world colossus and one of the most celebrated artists of our time.

The curator, Nontobeko Ntombela, explains: “This retrospective offers a remarkable opportunity to experience Esther Mahlangu's artistic journey. Her work has had a profound impact on South African modern and contemporary art, and this exhibition is testament to her incredible contribution.”

The foundations for Esther’s artistic journey were laid by her grandmother and mother, who taught her the cultural practice of Ndebele wall painting and beadwork from the age of ten. She worked in the communal cultural tradition of the Southern Ndebele community in decorating one’s home, at a time when the land was contested.

Not only did the wall murals identify the Southern Ndebele community, but they also signalled resistance to white oppression laying claim to this contested land. Her story of perseverance and passion is encapsulated in the exhibition’s title, inspired by her realisation: “Then I knew I was good at painting.”

In 1989, Esther gained international recognition when she was invited to participate in the Magiciens de la Terre exhibition in Paris. She was invited to travel to Paris to paint a replica of her home, which generated much media and other international exposure. In 1991, she became the first African and the first woman to paint a BMW Art Car, joining the ranks of art legends like Andy Warhol, David Hockney and Roy Lichtenstein.

In the lead-up to the exhibition in Johannesburg, Mahlangu is set to be honoured in London by the Serpentine Gallery with the unveiling a large 9m x 5m mural as the opening event for Frieze London.

The artwork is titled ‘Umuntu ngumuntu ngabuntu’ and directly translates from Ndebele to ‘I am because you are’, emphasising a connectedness that exists between humans, communities and other living species. It will be presented in the garden at Serpentine North and be on view from 4 October 2024.

The retrospective at WAM will open to the public on 20 November 2024, which has been made possible thanks to the partnership and support provided by the National Arts Council and the BMW Group.

The WAM showing provides an opportunity for audiences from Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Tshwane and outlying areas to experience the iconic works of living art legend and national treasure Esther Mahlangu.

Accompanying the artworks, Mahlangu’s BMW 525i Art Car makes its historic return to Gauteng for the first time in over 30 years. It is one of the highlights of the exhibition. Other highlights include a meticulously curated timeline of Esther Mahlangu’s practice and some of her earliest canvas works.