Bongiwe Dhlomo-Mautloa

b. Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 1956. Lives in Johannesburg.

Bongiwe Dhlomo-Mautloa is an artist, art educator and one of South Africa’s first black curators. Bongiwe Dhlomo-Mautloa began making art in the late 1970s as a response to life under apartheid. With a strong focus on the political, her aims include giving voice to the rural and urban histories of black women.

Art Education

1978 - 1979: Fine Arts Diploma (Printmaking), The Evangelical Lutheran Church Art and Craft Centre at Rorke's Drift, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Exhibitions

2025: Setlhatliso: an Exhibition of Prints by Dr. Bongi Dhlomo-Mautloa, Students and Staff of TUT, The Viewing Room Art Gallery, Pretoria
2022: Yakhal'Inkomo: Bongi Dhlomo Collection, Javett-UP Gallery, University of Pretoria, Tshwane
2022: When Rain Clouds Gather: Black South African Women Artists, 1940–2000, Norval Foundation, Cape Town
2018: FUBA: Preserving a Legacy, Keyes Art Mile, Johannesburg.
2017: A Labour of love, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg.
2015: A Labour of Love, Weltkulturen Museum, Frankfurt, Germany.
2014: Impressions of Rorke’s Drift - The Jumuna Collection, Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town.
2012: A Fragile Archive, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg.
2010: Strengths and Convictions: The Lives and Times of South Africa's Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town; Nobel Peace Centre, Oslo.
2003: Rorke's Drift: Empowering Prints 1962 - 1982, Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town; Durban Art Gallery, Durban.
2003: Time, Memory and Desire, Standard Bank Art Gallery, Johannesburg.
1999: [Rewind] Fast Forward.za, Van Reekum Museum of Modern Art, Apeldoorn, Netherlands.
1998: Trans Figurative, Association of Visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town.
1989 - 1990: Art/Images in Southern Africa, Kulturhuset, Stockholm.
1988: The Neglected Tradition, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg.
1986: Images of South Africa (solo), Gabarone.

Other

2020: Panellist, “Building legacies: Investing in Culture”, Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Cape Town.
2019: Curator, Admission of Guilt, 179 Buitengracht St, Gardens, Cape Town.
2016: Panellist, "A reflection on the role of the arts in the struggle" panel discussion, Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg.
2016: Curator, Assemblage. Johannesburg.
2014: Panellist, Seminar: Towards a working concept of socially engaged Art in 2014, KZNSA, KwaZulu-Natal.
2013: Co-Curator, Umhlaba 1913–2013: Commemorating the 1913 Land Act, Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town.
2013: Facilitator, Print Workshop, National School of the Arts (NSA), Johannesburg.
2009 - 2013: Curatorial Content Manager, Steve Biko Centre, King William's Town.
1994 - 1999: Committee member, Acquisitions Committee, Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town.
1986 - 1988: Coordinator, Alexandra Art Centre, Johannesburg.
1983 - 1985: Curator, FUBA Gallery, Johannesburg.
1980 - 1983: Worked at the African Art Centre, Durban.

Awards

2024: Conferred an honorary Doctorate. Doctor of Arts and Design (honoris causa). Tshwane University of Technology
2023: Bestowed the National Order of Ikhamanga (Silver) by President Cyril Ramaphosa

Publications

2022: Pfunzo Sidogi, Mihloti ya Ntsako: Journeys with the Bongi Dhlomo Collection, Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria
2004: Dhlomo, B and Godby, M “Art and Politics in a Changing South Africa: Bongi Dhlomo in Conversation with Michael Godby."African Arts, vol. 37, no. 4.

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