Permanent Collection

NAGN’s Contemporary Permanent Collection showcases contemporary and traditional Art and Craft. Quality and Innovations by autodidacts, professionals and academics provide a wide and rich variety of artworks. 

Babra Bohlke
"Crown of Thorns"
Oil on canvas		 Joseph Madesia
"Culture and Privacy"
Oil on canvas		 Erick Schnack
"Solicit Condomon"
Mixed media
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Unknown
"Untitled"
Wooden Sculpture		 John Muafangejo
" St. Michael Church
in Windhoek"
Lino Print		 Mtambo
"Traditional Chkwe Mask"
Mixed Media
Paul Kiddo
"Coming"
Oil on board		 Inatu Indongo
"Determination past present and future"
Mixed Media 		Pedro Vorster
"Symbols have
oshonnas for umbilical cords"
Oil on Canvas
Kaleb Haipinge
"Culture Boy"
Cardboard print 1/4		 John Muafangejo
"Ovambo"
Lino Print		 Ponofi Veico &
Karina Nambahu
"Emty Dress"
Susan Mitchinson
"Young Man"
Oil on Canvas		 Grabriel Kashava
"Dream of Home"
Lino Print 10/100		 Liena Kakongo
"Traditional Dress"
Clay Sculpture


The collections typifies Namibia’s Independence slogan of “Unity in Diversity”.The abstract painting “Crown of Thorns” by established artist, Barbara Bohlke encourages Rothko-like contemplation; whilst Joe Madisia’s naturalistic and controversial “Culture and Privacy”  provides for scintillating debates on African Culture in the Modern world.Relief work by sculptor Erik Schnack evidences the resourcefulness in the use of found objects which characterizes contemporary Afrikan Art, and characterizes its appeal for European artists.Paul Kiddo’s narrative, “Babylon Suburb” gives us insight into contemporary Katatura with his meticulous attention to detail, humor and cultural references.   Contemporary printmakers such as Ndasunye Shikongeni, Phillipus Sheehama, Shiya Karuseb and Ismael Tjijenda are examples of a strong contemporary generation of printmaking, beginning originally with John Muafangejo, and continued by Joseph Madisia.  

The collection also houses works by Muafangejo – the first black Namibian Artist to gain us international acclaim.  His linocuts depict the liberation struggle from a religious and narrative perspective.   Other subjects include cultural life, historical and religious events, as well as stories about the artist’s personal life.

Pedro Vorster - “Symbols have “oshanas” for umbilical cords, painting
Pedro’s artwork of embryonic shapes and links between such shaped suggest the interdependence of past and present, by depicting images akin to rock paintings of the past but simultaneously using the indigenous Oshiwambo word “Oshanas” that refer to large water pools, which could means that all need to quench their thirst in the past to affirm identity in the present phase of post independence.

Paul Kiddo – “Coming”, painting
Paul Kiddo is a self-taught artist whose artwork reflects in the title ”Coming” itself the un-resolved land issues in Namibia, that is also rive in some countries e.g. Zimbabwe, of the sub-region. Where landless informal farmers built corrugation patched houses to establish themselves as fulltime farmers in as open landscape. Almost as if the artist wants to depict that the vast landscaped of Namibia is inhabited by people as opposed to the general impression to the outside world and tourists of undisturbed landscapes.

Susan Mitchinson – “Young Man”, painting
Susan Mitchinson’s work depicts an image of a young man in an expressionistic manner with lively colourful brush strokes, whereby the white and grey almost bound to silver greyish surfaces with a strong red background. She is a perfect example of a Namibian artist who was born abroad, established herself in Namibia but who was never really accepted as truly Namibian artist by the established mainstream.

Inatu Indongo – “ Sisters”, mixed media
Inatu has become the first black woman artist who staged a solo art exhibition at the NAGN, after 15 year of independence. She applies mixed media and painting almost collage-like to create special textural surfaces on her artworks. She was born in a refugee camp in Angola, and it is evident that being back in her motherland being a woman, she want unite with all woman as sisters whether they were in the struggle or not. Most of her art dwells around the theme of women as a supporter on the plight of women.