Alka Dass

b. 1992, Durban, South Africa. Lives in Johannesburg.

Alka Dass is a multidisciplinary artist who draws inspiration from Hindu mythology and rituals. Dass uses archival imagery to investigate the cultural and psychological spaces that are traditionally assigned to females in Desi culture.

Gallery
Press
CV

little blossoms, 2020. Digital print, 14 x 14 cm. (Image courtesy of the artist)

Nothing moves, but the shifting tides of salt in your body, 2020. Digital print, 14 x 14 cm. (Image courtesy of the artist)

Flower face girlie, 2020. Digital print, 16 x 24 cm. (Image courtesy of the artist)

Our hands empty except for our hands, 2020. Digital print, 14 x 14 cm. (Image courtesy of the artist).

The look you gave me made flowers grow in my..., 2020. Digital print, 14 x 14 cm. (Image courtesy of the artist).

Head in the flowers, 2020. Digital print, 14 x 14 cm. (Image courtesy of the artist)

Here comes the sun, 2020. Digital print, 14 x 14 cm. (Image courtesy of the artist).

Alka Dass, detail from The Million Petaled Flower exhibition at Church Projects, Cape Town, 2024. (Image courtesy of Church Projects).

My Nani has always been a wildflower, 2020. Digital print, 16 x 24 cm. (Image courtesy of the artist).

In full bloom, 2020. Digital print, 16 x 24 cm. (Image courtesy of the artist).

Marigold girl, 2020. Digital print, 16 x 24 cm. (Image courtesy of the artist).

Snapdragon scouts, 2020. Digital print, 24 x 16 cm. (Image courtesy of the artist).

[Show thumbnails]

Fine-artist Alka Dass on stitching the language of her lineage

Outside the fair's stage, South African and international artists set the agenda

The afterlives of indenture

Two Projects Helping Female Artists in Africa Find Their Voices

Education

2016: National Diploma, Durban University of Technology, Durban.

Work Experience

2022–2023: Internship, KZNSA Gallery.
2019: Co-Founder, Kutti Collective (South African South Asian/queer artist collective).
2016- 2017: Gallery Assistant, Loading Bay Gallery, Durban.
2016: Assistant, Durban University of Technology, Digital Sculpture Festival, Durban.
2011- 2013: Art and Craft curator, Holy Family College, Durban.

Solo Exhibitions

2024: Can I Tell You Something..., KZNSA, Durban.
2024: The Blue House, WHATIFTHEWORLD Gallery, Cape Town.
2024: The Million Petaled Flower of When You Were Here, Church Projects, Cape Town.
2019: When I Was a Child I Thought the Moon Followed Me, 99 Loop Gallery, Cape Town.
2019: Where does the pain go when it goes away?, Lizamore and Associates, Johannesburg.
2018: Alka Dass, The Project Space, Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Cape Town.

Group Exhibitions

2026: Where we were wo(r)n, AVA Gallery, Cape Town
2026: Intertwined Narratives, a collaboration between the Cape Town Creative Academy, the Museum Bensheim and the Galerie EIGEN + ART Leipzig/Berlin
2025: As Natural As Daylight, AVA Gallery, Cape Town
2025: A Beast with Two Backs, AVA Gallery, Cape Town
2025: Tell me about a day you don't remember, AVA Gallery, Cape Town
2024: (Be)longing, Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Cape Town.
2023: Within the Fibre of My Being, KZNSA Gallery, Durban.
2022: Fever, Returns, Kalashnikovv Gallery, Johannesburg.
2020: Folds and Faults, University of the Free State, Free State [online exhibition].
2020: Site Visit, L’AIR arts, Paris [online exhibition].
2020: #ALL WOMXN MATTER, Julie Miller Gallery, Johannesburg [online exhibition].
2020: Latitudes Art Fair, Johannesburg [online exhibition].
2020: Untangled, World Art Gallery, Cape Town.
2020: She Impressions, The Project Space, Johannesburg.
2020: Rise, 44 on Long Street, Cape Town.
2019: Aardklop National Arts Festival, Potchefstroom.
2019: Familiar Threads, Museum of African Design, Underline Projects, Johannesburg.
2019: Empathic Whispers, SMITH Gallery, Cape Town.
2019: Eulogy: A Tribute to Benon Lutaaya, Lizamore and Associates, Johannesburg.
2019: First Sundays, Victoria Yards, Johannesburg.
2019: Open Hands, Alliance Française, Johannesburg.
2019: Arty Bollocks, Victoria Yards, Johannesburg.
2019: Invisible Realm of Impossibility, FIAP Jean Monnet, Paris.
2019: Open Studio, August House, Johannesburg.
2019: Tswela Pele: First Collection of the Art Bank of South Africa, Durban Art Gallery, Durban.
2018: A flood in my Hands, Aardklop National Arts Festival, Potchefstroom.
2018: FNB Joburg Art Fair, The Project Space, Johannesburg.
2018: Now, StArt Art Festival, St Theresa’s School, Johannesburg.
2018: ABSA L’Atelier Art Competition, ABSA Art Gallery, Johannesburg.
2018: Lipstick and Ladies, Afropolitan Gallery, Victoria Yards, Johannesburg.
2018: Open Studios, SAFFCA, France.
2018: Decently Damaged, 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair, New York.
2018: A flood in my Hands, Fried Contemporary, Pretoria.
2017: Aardklop National Arts Festival, The Bag Factory, Potchefstroom.
2017: FNB Joburg Art Fair, The Bag Factory, Johannesburg.
2017: Young Capital/ White Noise, Johannesburg Fringe, Johannesburg.
2017: Cultivate, King David School, Johannesburg.
2017: Turbine Art Fair, The Project Space, Johannesburg.
2016: Femergy, ArtSpace, Durban.

Residencies

2024: Krone x WHATIFTHEWORLD Artist Residency, Tulbagh.
2019: L’AiR Arts, Paris.
2019: Draw, international residency, Caylus, France.
2018: SAFFCA (Southern African Foundation For Contemporary Art) Residency, France.

Awards

2022: Winner, J.P. Morgan Abadali Art Development Programme
2017: Winner, Young Female Residency Award, The Project Space, Johannesburg.

Share