Mario Pissarra

2019: PhD, Sociology, University of Cape Town (UCT). Thesis title – Locating Malangatana: Decolonisation, aesthetics and the roles of an artist in a changing society.
2000: Advanced Diploma for Educators of Adults, University of the Western Cape.
1991: B.A History of Art Honours, UCT.
1981: B.A. Fine Arts, UCT (graduated with distinction).
1977: Matriculated, Thomas More School, Kloof, Kwa-Zulu Natal (with distinction for Art).

2023-present: Honorary Research Associate, Faculty of Arts and Design, Durban University of Technology.
2020-22: Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Visual Arts, University of Stellenbosch.
2006-11: Honorary Research Associate, Department of Historical Studies, UCT.

2005- present: Founder and project director, Africa South Art Initiative (https://asai.co.za)
2022-23: Guest lecturer, Art History III, Centre for Visual Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) (“Re/writing South African Art History”).
2006: Producer, CAPE Africa Platform, Cape Town.
2005: Contract lecturer, History of Art II, UCT (“Sacred Art in Africa”).
2004-05: Contract lecturer, History of Art II, University of Stellenbosch (“Modern and Contemporary African Art”).
2003-05: Freelance writer, Cape Town.
1999-02: Various part-time and freelance roles, London: Freelance writer; Assistant researcher and project manager, Africa Centre; Sales assistant and blurb-writer, Africa Book Centre; Itinerant book and CD trader, various markets and festivals
1993-99: Director (1996-99); Education Convenor (1994-96); Visual Arts & Crafts Project coordinator (1993-94). Community Arts Project, Cape Town.
1992: Contract lecturer, History of Art III, UCT (“Political caricature and cartoons”).
1991-92: General secretary, Cultural Workers Congress, Cape Town.
1987-92: Club DJ, Cape Town (T-Zers, Indaba Project, The Base).
1987-90: Part-time slide custodian and lecturer, Dept. of History of Art, UCT (taught course on “African Art”).
1985-86: Textile artist and market trader, Johannesburg.
1982-83: Resident club DJ, DV8, Johannesburg.
1979-81: Club DJ, Cape Town (Ellingtons, 1886 and Scratch).

2023: S T O N E D: Remembering the 80s, curated by Chery Traub Adler, AVA, Cape Town.
2015: Thupelo Cape Town Trust Exhibition. Provenance Auction House, Cape Town
2007: africa south. AVA, Cape Town
2007: ReCenter. Lookout Hill, Khayelitsha
2007: Arts of Revolution. Saba Artistic & Cultural Institute, Tehran
1997: Group exhibition. City Hall, Cape Town [launch of the Cape Town City Council’s Arts & Culture Policy] 1990-93: Visual Arts Group exhibitions at Mayibuye Centre, UWC; Uluntu Centre, Guguletu (x 3); SA Association of Arts, Cape Town; Centre for African Studies, UCT (x 3); Zolani Centre, Nyanga East; Manenberg Peoples Centre; Community Arts Project
1988: Arts and Militarism. Michaelis School of Fine Art, UCT
1986: [with Vheke Kruger] Dandy Lion. Gallant House, President St, Johannesburg
1986: Group exhibition. Gallant House, Johannesburg
1983: [with Anthony Chase] East Side Steppers. Installations at Pyramid; Dancetaria; Strictly Roots; & Overground nightclubs, New York
1980: (with Oliver Schmitz) Art Pop Militants Watershed Gallery, Cape Town.

2017: Beyond Binaries. ICC, Durban; Durban Art Gallery; and KZNSA Gallery (Co-curator, with Russel Hlongwane and Robin Moodley)
2015: In Print/ In Focus. Michaelis Art Galleries, UCT.
2013-14: Against the Grain: Makeleni, Thyssen, Mbanya, Mafenuka and Kiti, sculptors from the Cape. Iziko SA National Gallery; and Sanlam Art Gallery, Belville.
2007: africa south. AVA, Cape Town.
2007: ReCenter. Lookout Hill, Khayelitsha.
2004-05: Botaki (series)
1990-93: Visual Arts Group exhibitions. Community Arts Project; Mayibuye Centre, UWC; Uluntu Centre, Guguletu (x 3); SA Association of Arts, Cape Town; Centre for African Studies, UCT (x 3); Zolani Centre, Nyanga East; Manenberg Peoples Centre (Co-curator/organizer)
1988: Arts and Militarism. Michaelis School of Fine Art, UCT. (Co-curator/organizer for Gardens Youth Congress)

2024: "Finding a Way: Thami Jali’s ‘Mphendla Ndlela’ at the KZNSA Gallery”, ArtThrob, 15 March, https://artthrob.co.za/2024/03/15/finding-a-way-thami-jalis-mphendla-ndlela-at-kznsa-gallery/
2024: (with Taryn Jade Benadé) ASAI print access workshops: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, ASAI, https://asai.co.za/publication/asai-print-access-workshops/
2022: “Critical biography: Sam J. Ntiro,” in African Modernism in America, edited by Perrin Lathrop (American Federation of Arts), 162-63.
2021: "Youth and Peace: Valente Ngwenya Malangatana," in Unesco Art Collection: Selected Works (Paris: Unesco), 448-451.
2021: “Pursuing a Research Agenda: the role of ASAI as publisher,” in Decolonizing Art Book Fairs: publishing practices from the south(s), edited by Y. Camps, M. Grünke, P. Obolo, M. Pichler, P. Tabapsi and N. Mabaso (Berlin: Miss Read, Afrikadaa, and Mosaïques), 60-65.
2021: “Deep Ambivalences: Malangatana’s anti/colonial aesthetic,” in Malangatana: Mozambique Modern edited by H, Folkerts, F. Mings and C. Petridis (Art Institute of Chicago). https://www.artic.edu/digital-publications/34/malangatana-mozambique-modern/8/malangatanas-anticolonial-aesthetic
2021: “Malangatana as anti/colonial subject, (1959-74), Post: notes on art in a global context (MoMA, NYC, 3 February), https://post.moma.org/malangatana-as-anti-colonial-subject-1959-74/
2020: “The Community Arts Project: legacies and limitations of an arts centre, Third Text Africa 12 (ASAI, 2020): 33-53, https://asai.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/The-Community-Arts-Project-legacies-and-limitations-of-an-arts-centre.pdf
2020: “Everywhere but nowhere: reflections on DV8 magazine”. Herri https://herri.org.za/4/mario-pissarra/
2018: “Of and Apart from the People: a close reading of representations of Malangatana in catalogues produced for group exhibitions in Mozambique, 1962-2011”. Third Text Africa v.5, 50-71, https://asai.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/TTA_MOZ_VOL-5-2018_Of-and-Apart-from-the-People.pdf
2018: “Affirmations of Humanity: Sfiso Ka-Mkame’s dialogues with himself”. Word View, https://asai.co.za/sfiso-ka-mkames-dialogues-with-himself/
2017: Awakenings: The art of Lionel Davis. Cape Town: ASAI in assoc. w. District Six Museum and Centre for Humanities Research, UWC (editor and contributing author, 224 pp), https://asai.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Awakenings_Introduction_Pissarra.pdf
2017: Beyond Binaries. KZNSA Gallery, Durban (exhibition catalogue, 60pp])
2015: “Re/writing Sam J Ntiro: Challenges of framing in the excavation of a 'lost' pioneer”. Third Text Africa v.4: 25-60, https://asai.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Rewriting-Sam-J-Ntiro.pdf
2015: In Print/ In Focus. Cape Town: ASAI (exhibition catalogue, 14pp)
2014: “Quiet Provocations: Thoughts on two works by Randolph Hartzenberg”. Word View, https://asai.co.za/quiet-provocatph-hartzenberg/
2014: “Some thoughts on Peter Clarke”. Word View, https://asai.co.za/some-thoughts-peter-clarke-1/
2013: “Uncontained? The limits of ahistoricism in the ‘opening’ of the Community Arts Project archive at the Centre for Humanities Research”. Third Text Africa v.3 n.1: 56-85, https://asai.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Uncontained.pdf
2013: Against the Grain: sculptors from the Cape. ASAI, Cape Town (exhibition catalogue, 64pp)
2011: “Isolation, distance and engagement: South African art and artists in the international sphere”. In Pissarra (ed), Visual Century: South African Art in Context. Vol 3: 1973-92. Johannesburg: Wits University Press, 180-203.
2011: “Art and decolonisation: small steps towards a global art history”. www.asai.co.za
2010: “Migrant Perspectives: The Art of Zemba Luzamba”. Critical Interventions 6: 102-07
2010: “De-segregating the Audience: Race & the Politics of Exhibitions”. ASAI: Word View, https://asai.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ASAI_Word-View_Mario-Pissarra_De-segregating-the-Audience_2010.pdf
2009: “Decolonizing art in Africa: some preliminary thoughts on the relevance of the discourse on decolonization for contemporary African art, with particular reference to post-apartheid South Africa”. ASAI: Word View, https://asai.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ASAI_Word-View_Mario-Pissarra_Decolonising-art-in-Africa_2009.pdf
2009: “Decolonisation of art in Africa: a post-apartheid South African perspective”. https://asai.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ASAI_Word-View_Mario-Pissarra_Decolonisation-of-art-in-Africa-a-post-apartheid-SA-perspective_2009.pdf
2008: “Creating New Conditions for Creativity: Mario Pissarra in conversation with Uche Okeke”. ASAI: Word View, https://asai.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ASAI_Word-View_Uche-Okeke-and-Mario-Pissarra_Creating-New-Conditions-for-Creativity_2008.pdf
2007: “Re-reading Malangatana”. Farafina 11 (Lagos, Nigeria), 13-17.
2007: “Madi Phala: what place in ‘our’ art history?” Word View, https://asai.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ASAI_Word-View_Mario-Pissarra_Madi-Phala_2007.pdf
2006: “Donovan Ward”. Art South Africa 4(1): 83. Republished www.asai.co.za
2006: “Demystifying art: Garth Erasmus interviewed”. Word View, https://asai.co.za/demystifying-art-garth-erasmus-interviewed-by-mario-pissarra/
2006: “To Neglect Africa is to Neglect Ourselves”. Art South Africa 3(4): 41
2006: “Cast in Colour? Towards an Inclusive South African Art”. In H. Proud (ed) ReVisions: Expanding the Narrative of South African Art, SAHO & UNISA Press, Pretoria, 46-53. (for online version, http://revisions.co.za/articles/cast-in-colour-towards-an-inclusive-south-african-art/ )
2006: “Songs of Place: Some Reflections on the Paintings of Tyrone Appollis”. In S. Hundt (ed), Tyrone Appollis: Today and Yesterday. Cape Town: Sanlam, 15-24
2006: “Death to Venice! A South African perspective on the irrelevance of representation at the Venice Biennale”. ASAI: Word View, https://asai.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ASAI_Word-View_Mario-PIssarra_Death-to-Venice_2006.pdf
2006: “Picasso and Africa: Are we asking the right questions?” ASAI: Word View, https://asai.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/ASAI_Word-View_Mario-Pissarra_Picasso-and-Africa_2006.pdf
2005 (co-author, with Arlene Brown): Art & Design for Everyone: Grade 10 Learners Book. Cape Town: Juta Gariep.
2005 (co-author, with Arlene Brown): Art & Design for Everyone: Grade 10 Teachers Guide. Cape Town: Juta Gariep.
2003-05: Botaki exhibition catalogues (1-4). Cape Town: Old Mutual Asset Managers.
2004: “The Luggage is Still Labelled: But Is It going to the right destination?” Third Text 67 (vol 18, issue 2): 183- 191
2004: Short Change: the curator as editor [review of The Short Century], Art Throb, https://artthrob.co.za/04jan/reviews/pub_shortcentury.html
2003: “Decolonise the Mind”. Art South Africa 2 (2): 37- 41
2003: “The Trails and Tribulations of Sfiso Ka Mkame”. Artthrob 74, https://artthrob.co.za/03oct/reviews/ava.html
2003: “Short Change: The Curator as Editor”. Arthrob 77, https://artthrob.co.za/04jan/reviews/pub_shortcentury.html
2003: “Mgcineni Pro Sobopha”. Art South Africa 2 (2): 68
2003: “Brett Murray”. Polvo, Chicago, USA
2001: “Post-colonial Africa”. Third Text 57:106- 108. Also published as “Contemporary Art of the San of Southern Africa”. www.artthrob.co.za
2001-03: Over 40 profiles on African artists and public figures, 16 of which were on African musicians, Contemporary Africa Database and Akwaaba websites, Africa entre, London (regrettably no longer online)
2000: “Cross Currents: Contemporary art practice in South Africa”. Third Text 52: 95-102. Also published www.artthrob.co.za
2000: “Reggae media”. Gargamel: The International Word in Reggae Music 2 (London): 31
1998: Reviews and reports on visiting reggae artists, Cape Times.
1993: “Some of my best friends are cultural workers”. Die Suid Afrikaan Feb/March: 21, 23
1991: “The Visual Arts in the Culture of Resistance”. Proceedings of the 6th Annual Conference of the SA Association of Art Historians.
1990: (with Jacqui Nolte) “MOMA show raises questions about people’s culture and art museums”. In D. Elliott (ed), Art from South Africa. Oxford: Museum of Modern Art, 33- 34.
1990: “Prejudice and potential in political cartooning”. Proceedings of the 5th Annual Conference of the SA Association of Art Historians.
1983: “Sister Carol: Too Crucial”. East Village Eye (New York): 43, 55
1982-83: Numerous record reviews. DV8 zine (Johannesburg).

2023: Access and Liminality: ASAI Print Access Workshops at Michaelis School of Fine Art, UCT. Digital publication: ASAI.
2023: (With Roberto Conduru) 3rd Text Africa, No. 13, ‘Africa/Brasil’. Digital publication: ASAI.
2020: (With Fiona Mauchan) Third Text Africa, No. 12, ‘Collectivities’. Digital publication: ASAI.
2018: (With Rayda Becker) Third Text Africa, Vol. 5, ‘Mozambique’. Digital publication: ASAI.
2015: (With Natasha Himmelman) Third Text Africa, Vol. 4, ‘East Africa’. Digital publication: ASAI.
2013: Third Text Africa, Vol. 3 No. 1, ‘Localities’. Digital publication: ASAI.
2011: Visual Century: South African Art in Context. Vol 3: 1973-92. Johannesburg: Wits University Press (232pp). Includes introductory essay “Introduction: Recovering critical moments, 2-15."
2011 (co-editor, with T. Goniwe and M. Majavu): Visual Century: South African Art in Context. Vol 4: 1990-2007. Johannesburg: Wits University Press (222pp). Includes introductory essay (with M. Majavu): “Introduction: Charting pathways in an era of posts”, 2-19/"
2011 (editor-in-chief): Visual Century: South African Art in Context, 1907-2007, Vols 1-4. Johannesburg: Wits University Press
2009-10: Third Text Africa (8 vols of pre-published archival texts from Third Text, with editorial essays).
2005-present: Numerous texts for Word View. Digital platform: ASAI.

2024: Opening speech, Thami Jali solo exhibition, KZNSA Gallery.
2023: Opening speeches at exhibitions: Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town (UCT); Satellite Gallery, Durban University of Technology (DUT).
2022: Panelist, Miss Read Berlin Art Book Fair, Haus Kulturen der Weldt (HKW), Berlin.
2022: Panelist, “Malangatana: disrupting established narratives”, presented at symposium “Pioneers of contemporary African art”, National Institute of Art History (INHA), Paris.
2021: Guest presenter, “Malangatana Valente Ngwenya e a estética anti/colonial”. International webinar series, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Brazil (zoom).
2020: Guest presenter, C-Map programme, Museum of Modern Art, New York (zoom).
2020: Workshop series, “Critical writing”, KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts (KZNSA), Durban.
2019: Panellist, Critical Epistemologies workshop, Art for Humanity, DUT.
2017: Presentation [on Awakenings], African Art Book Fair, La Colonie, Paris.
2017: (with Lionel Davis) Awakenings book launch, District Six Museum, Cape Town.
2017: Opening speech, Zemba Luzamba exhibition, Stellenbosch University Art Museum.
2017: Keynote address, Lionel Davis retrospective exhibition opening, South African National Gallery (SANG).
2016: Lecture series, “Aesthetics of Decolonisation”, Centre for Visual Arts, UKZN.
2016: Presentation (on ASAI), President’s Competition, Gaborone, Botswana.
2016: Opening speech, Sfiso ka Mkame exhibition, African Art Centre, Durban.
2016: Presentation on publishing, for postgraduate students and staff, Centre for Visual Arts, UKZN.
2015: Opening speech, Manfred Zylla/ Garth Erasmus exhibition, Erdmann Contemporary, Cape Town.
2015: Moderator, conversation with Zemba Luzamba, Africa Month, UCT.
2014: Speaker, Peter Clarke memorial, SANG.
2014: Panellist, publishing symposium, Dakar Biennale, Senegal.
2013: Panellist, Against the Grain exhibition, SANG.
2012: Panellist, publishing symposium, Dakar Biennale.
2012: Presentation [on ASAI website], Michaelis School of Fine Art, UCT.
2012: Conference paper, African Studies Association, Philadelphia, USA.
2011: Presentations, Visual Century book launches, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC; James Gallery, College of New York; Wits University; Joburg Art Fair, Sandton Convention Centre; SANG; Institute for Democratic Alternatives (IDASA), Cape Town.
2011: Lecture, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique.
2010: Panellist, Bonani documentary photography conference, Centre for the Book, Cape Town.
2010: Panellist, Borders (Bamako biennale) exhibition, SANG.
2009: Panellist, Africa Cont consultative conference, Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon.
2008: Conference paper, South African Visual Arts Historians, University of Stellenbosch.
2007: Opening speech, Madi Phala posthumous exhibition, Association for Visual Arts, Cape Town.
2007: Presentation, International Association of Art Critics (AICA)/ Visual Arts Network of South Africa (VANSA) seminar, Michaelis School of Fine Art, UCT.
2006: Panellist, VANSA conference, Michaelis School of Fine Art, UCT.
2006: Guest lecture, Michaelis School of Fine Art, UCT.
2006: Panellist, Picasso in Africa exhibition, Centre for the Book, Cape Town.
2000: Lecture [on Community Arts Project], School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London.
1998: Presentation on cultural policy [on behalf of Community Arts Network], Parliamentary Arts & Culture Standing Committee, Cape Town.
1996: Course/ workshop series, “Mural Art History”, Community Arts Project, Cape Town.
1994: Presentation on cultural policy [on behalf of Arts and Cultural Development Network], Parliamentary Arts & Culture Standing Committee, Cape Town.
1994: Respondent, South African Association of Art Historians conference, University of Stellenbosch.
1990: Conference paper, South African Association of Art Historians, UCT.
1990: Panelist, Political Cartoons in the Western Cape exhibition opening, Centre for African Studies, UCT.
1989: Course/ lecture series (History of Art I), “African Art”, UCT.
1989: Conference paper, South African Association of Art Historians, University of Natal, Durban.

2023: (for ASAI) Print Access Workshops at UCT, Wits University and Art Print Studio KZN
2019: (for ASAI) Critical Epistemologies workshop, Art for Humanity, Durban University of Technology (three-day workshop for writers)
2018: (for ASAI) Lithography Workshop, UCT (two-week workshop for printmakers trained at the Community Arts Project)
2017: Roundtable conversations with artists associated with community arts networks from the 80s/90s, KZNSA Gallery, Durban; Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth; Trauma Victim’s Empowerment Centre, Thohoyandou.
2014: (For ASAI) “In Print”, Michaelis School of Fine Art, UCT. Two week access workshop for professional printmakers.
2011: “Art as an act of decolonization: perspectives from and on the global south”. Convenor/chairperson of conference panel, CIHA/SAVAH conference, Wits University.
2008: (For Visual Century project) “South African Artists as Exiles, Emigrants and Expatriates, 1938-1990” Centre for African Studies, UCT (one day research seminar with former exiles and researchers)
1990-98: Co-organised national and provincial conferences and workshops for the Cultural Workers Congress, Federation of South African Cultural Organisations, Arts & Cultural Development Network, and Community Arts Project. These were held at the UCT, UWC, and CAP.
1991: (co-convenor, with Sandra Klopper), South African Association of Art Historians conference, UCT.

2022: Ajudicator, KZNSA members annual exhibition.
2017- present: Member, Acquisitions Committee, Durban Art Gallery. Member, Advisory Board, UKZN Gallery.
2006-21: Consulting Editor, Critical Interventions: journal of contemporary African culture, USA.
2009-12: Member, Advisory Council, Third Text, London.
2008-10: Member, Visual Arts Advisory Panel, National Arts Council of South Africa.
1998-99: Representative of South African NGO Coalition, National Standards Body for Culture & Arts (NSB02). Also, chairperson, National Lead Project for Arts & Culture; and convenor, Arts NGO’s Accreditation Lobby.
1994-98: Member of advisory bodies to the Adult Basic Education & Training sub- directorate of the Western Cape Education Department.
1987-99: Active member, including several leadership positions, in community organizations: Arts & Culture Forum of the City of Cape Town (1998-99); Arts & Cultural Development Network (1994); Visual Arts Group (1989-93); Cultural Workers Congress (1988-93); Gardens Youth Congress (1987-90).
1991: Visual arts editor (western Cape), Staffrider.
1979-81: Founder member and club DJ, Scratch, Cape Town

2022: Association of Art Museum Curators Excellence Award: Digital Publications. For Malangatana: Mozambique Modern (with lead curators H. Folkerts, F. Mings and C. Petridis).
2022: Invited participant (ASAI), African Art Book Fair, Dakar Biennale.
2022: Invited participant (ASAI), Miss Read Berlin Art Book Fair, HKW.
2022: Invited scholar, “Pioneers of contemporary African art” symposium, National Institute of Art History (INHA), Paris.
2020: Invited scholar, C-Map programme, Museum of Modern Art, New York (zoom).
2017: Invited participant (ASAI), African Art Book Fair, Paris.
2016: International Adjudicator, President’s Competition, National Museum, Gaborone.
2014: Invited guest (ASAI), African Art Book Fair, Dakar Biennale.
2012: Invited guest, Dakar Biennale.
2011: Invited guest, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo.
2009: Invited guest, Africa.cont, Lisbon.
1998: Invited delegate (Community Arts Project), “Shuttle 99” cultural exchange programme organized by Nordic Council of Ministers, Denmark & Sweden.

1983 (May) – 1985 (January): Fled South Africa to avoid military conscription. Lived precariously in New York, Portugal and Zimbabwe. Returned to RSA after expelled from Zimbabwe as a “security risk”