Gerard Sekoto - Commemorative Exhibition

Brought to you by the South African High Commission, Iziko South African National Gallery, and Nedbank, the NAGN proudly presents a commemorative exhibition of Gerard Sekoto, father of black South African painting. This exhibition will form part of the South African Art and Culture week from March 9 – 14.

Sekoto died in Paris, in self-imposed exile, on 20 March 1993.  Like Namibia’s John Muafangejo, he died one year before the independence of his motherland. Again like Muafangejo, he gained international recognition for his country.
Though, in Paris since 1947, Sekoto’s style of social realism and subject matter of township life remained much the same.  Reflections from his days in Sophiatown, and District Six continued.  The exhibition consists of drawings, paintings and memorabilia from his Paris studio.  The drawings provided insight into Sekoto’s working methods.  His paintings are expressive in colour and vibrant in subject matter.

Sekoto was born at Botshabelo, near Middleburg in the then Transvaal, in 1913.  Interested in art from a young age, he did not enjoy formal training, but did manage to attend part-time classes, and therefore remains largely self-taught.