Avhashoni Mainganye
Avhashoni Mainganye Avhashoni Mainganye

Avhashoni Mainganye

b. Venda, Limpopo, South Africa, 1957. Lives in Thohoyandou.


Avhashoni Mainganye is an artist, art educator, cultural activist and poet, and has been instrumental in promoting artistic activity in Limpopo. Initially producing art with strong socio-political overtones, his work has become increasingly abstract,  with questions of African culture interfacing with broader humanist concerns. 


 
 

Art education

1981-82: Rorke's Drift Art & Craft Centre, Kwa-Zulu Natal.
1985-89: Funda Art Centre, Soweto, Johannesburg.

Solo Exhibitions

2010: Journey, iZArte, Zutphen, Netherlands.
2008: Journey, Association for the Visual Arts, Cape Town.
2000: Coker College, North Carolina, USA.
1992:  Polokwane Art Museum, Polokwane.

Group Exhibitions

2019: The Mahlakasela collection, Henry Ponder Gallery, South Carolina.
2016: FNB Joburg Art Fair, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg.
2015: Art Santa Fe 2015, Sante Fe Convention Center, New Mexico.
2015: Opening the Drawers: A Limited Edition Print Pop Up Shop, David Krut Projects, Johannesburg.
2015: Venda Tsonga Craft Art Exhibition, Madi a Thavha Lodge, Limpopo.
2014: Work on Paper, Trent Gallery, Pretoria.
2011: Collages, African Studies Centre, Leiden, Netherlands.
2007: 30 Years of Soweto Printmaking, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg.
2006: Avashoni Mainganye and Sandile Zulu – New Works, David Krut Projects, Johannesburg.
2004 - 5: Soul Of Africa: Art as a Cornerstone for Development, The Development Bank of Southern Africa, Johannesburg.
2001: Golelanwali, Alliance Francais, Johannesburg. 
1995: Spring Time in Chile, Museum of Contemporary Art, Santiago, Chile.
1995: Africa95, Royal Academy of Arts, London.
1994: Artists for Peace, Geneva.
1989: Women, Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg.
1988: VhaVenda / Shangaan Wood Sculptures, South African Association of Arts, Pretoria.
1987: National Museum & Gallery, Gaborone.
1985: BMW Tributaries, Africana Museum in progress, Johannesburg.
1985: Artimo (Art in Motion), Market Gallery, Johannesburg.

Workshops & Residencies

2016: Transvisions in Wood, Karoo.
2008: International AIDS Conference, Polokwane Art Gallery, Polokwane.
2007: Triangle workshop, Isle of Tanera Mhor, Scotland.
2006: Greatmore Studios residency, Cape Town.
2005: Venda Land of Legends, Venda & Tsonga wood carving workshop, Netherlands.
1999: Craft/Art, Joint wood carving workshop with Graham Jones, Grahamstown Arts Festival, Grahamstown.
1995: Spring in Chile cultural exchange programme, Chile.
1994: Koma, collaboration with Stefano Kofmehl of Locarno, Switzerland.
1990: Soweto Action, Art Residency, France & Switzerland.
1986 - 2006: Thupelo Art Workshops, Cape Town.

Awards

2020: ACT Lifetime Achievement award for Visual Arts.
2016: MEC Achievers Award, Limpopo Department of Arts and Culture, Polokwane.
2008: Top five, Sasol Wax Art Awards, University of Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg
2007: Top ten, Sasol Wax Art Awards, University of Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg.
2005: Achievers Award, Limpopo Mapungubwe Arts Festival, Polokwane.
2004: Finalist, Brett Kebble Awards.
1994: Participant, FNB Vita Awards.
1985: Solomon Reuben and Ann Winer Bursary.

Other

2014: Host, the Ubuntu Trust, Thohoyandou Arts & Culture Centre, Thohoyandou.
2009: Selection panel, Department of Arts and Culture's Arts & Craft Awards.
2004 - 5: Selection panel, Soul of Africa exhibition, Development Bank of Southern Africa, Johannesburg.
2001: Art teacher, printing, Feniks International 20th Anniversary, Belgium.
2000: Art teacher, painting and printing at Coker College, North Carolina
1999: Arts facilitator, Thohoyandou Arts and Culture Centre, Thohoyandou.
1985 - 2006: United States - South Africa Leader Exchange Program (USSALEP)

Public collections

IBM South Africa, Cape Town.
MTN, Johannesburg.
Anglovalal Mining Company, Johannesburg.
Fur Volkerkunde Museum, Hamburg, Germany.
Totem Meneghelli Gallery, Johannesburg.
Polokwane Art Museum, Polokwane.
University of Zululand, Richards Bay.
University Limpopo, Mankweng.
University of Venda, Thohoyandou.
The Ghandi Foundation, London.

Links

2008 International AIDS Conference. Polokwane Art Gallery. Limpopo, Polokwane
Avhashoni Mainganye at the AVA, November 2008
The Neglected Art Tradition, South African History Online
David Krut Projects
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