As part of Heritage Month celebrations next month, the FNB Art Joburg will return to the Sandton Convention Centre for its 17th edition, where art lovers will be treated to an array of exhibitions and art showcases, with a gallery hub, a gallery lab and a GIF studio among this year’s main attractions.
As a mainstay art and cultural attraction in Johannesburg’s culture calendar, the fair will take place from September 6 - 8, and for its third edition, Open City will take place from August 29 - September 13 in partnership with Brand South Africa.
Based in Johannesburg, FNB Art Joburg is the leading and longest running contemporary African art fair on the continent which has for the past 17 years, played an instrumental role in developing and sustaining a commercial industry that centres around African and diasporic practitioners.
Faye Mfikwe, FNB chief marketing officer, said as a platform where curatorial and commercial interventions meet, the fair is divided into six specialised sections: gallery HUB, gallery LAB, MAX, GIF, ETC, AUX, and ORG sections.
“We are re-imagining FNB Art Joburg, and this year’s fair will see attendees and exhibitors experience the best of contemporary African art and culture. This repositioning of FNB Art Joburg ensures that we make this more than just a fair, but it is about creating a culture of appreciation and ownership that empowers creative talent in South Africa and the African continent.
“As FNB, we remain focused on supporting the creative economy and ensuring that contemporary African art remains a consistent player in the global art landscape. We are immensely proud of our long-standing sponsorship of FNB Art Joburg, now in its 17th year, and counting,” Mfikwe said.
Mfikwe added that this year’s edition was in line with the fair’s objective to be a quality focused fair, with the gallery HUB pavilion presenting internationally renowned galleries that represent institutionally recognised artists.
“This central section will be occupied by BKhz, blank, Eclectica Contemporary, Everard Read, First Floor Gallery Harare, Gallery MOMO, Goodman Gallery, Kalashnikovv, SMAC, Stevenson and Suburbia Contemporary. This is extended into the MAX section where artists from gallery HUB have the room to exhibit large scale works that would challenge the limitations of a conventional booth.”
Open City as a city-wide initiative is mandated to fulfil FNB Art Joburg’s mandate for economic stimulation, inclusivity, and better access for all, by encouraging visitors and residents to immerse themselves in the capital’s rich and layered cultural offerings until it becomes a part of their everyday life.
The Star