Eunice ‘Tshidi’ Sefako

b.1962, Smithville, Free State; d.2021

Eunice ‘Tshidi’ Sefako was one of a small number of Black South African women artists that emerged in South Africa during the 1980s. She was associated with the Community Arts Project (CAP) where she excelled in painting, printing and ceramic sculpture. Sefako taught art for many years, initially in townships under CAP’s Children’s Art Programme, and later on, for many years, to kids with intellectual disabilities.

Education

1985–1987: Community Arts Project (CAP), Cape Town.
1990: Course for Cultural Workers (setting up Community-based arts organisations), Community Arts Project (CAP), Cape Town.

Group Exhibitions (South Africa)

2022: When Rain Clouds Gather: Black South African Women Artists, 1940–2000, Norval Foundation, Cape Town.
2012: Uncontained: Opening the Community Arts Project archive, ArtB, Belville, Cape Town; Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town.

Group Exhibitions (International)

1990: Group Mural Painting, Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), London.

Publications

2020: Mario Pissarra, "The Community Arts Project: legacies and limitations of an arts centre," Third Text Africa 12 (August 2020): 33–53.
2013: Mario Pissarra, "Uncontained? The constraints of ahistoricism in the ‘opening’ of the Community Arts Project archive at the Centre for Humanities Research," Third Text Africa 3, no. 1 (November, 2013): 56–85.
2012: Heidi Grunebaum and Emile Maurice (eds), Uncontained: Opening the Community Arts Project archive, (Cape Town: Centre for Humanities Research, University of the Western Cape, 2012).
1989: Gavin Younge, Art of the South African Townships, (New York: Rizzoli, 1989)

Cultural Work & Employment

late 1980s, early 1990s: Children's Art Programme, Community Arts Project, Cape Town.
1995: ‘mural’ commission from CAPAB (later Artscape) to serve as a fire curtain for opera stage (with Trish de
Villers, Sophie Peters, Xolile Mtakatya, and Matshabalala Mkonto)
Set Painting, Artscape Theatre, Cape Town.
Art Teacher, Athlone School for the Blind, Cape Town.
Art teacher, Molenbeek Special Education School, Maitland, Cape Town.

Thami Jali

b. 1955, Lamontville, Durban.
Thami Jali is a painter, ceramicist and printmaker. As an alumni of the Rorke’s Drift Art & Craft Centre, he helped to re-establish the ceramics studio for their 2004 re-opening. Jali’s subject matter is as broad as his skill set, engaging areas from political life, dreams and the surreal, to forms from nature. 

 


Education

1983 - 1984: Ceramics, Natal Technikon, KwaZulu-Natal.
1981 - 1982: Rorke's Drift Art & Craft Centre, Kwa-Zulu Natal.

Solo Exhibitions (South Africa)

2024: Mphendla Ndlela, KwaZulu-Natal Society of Art (KZNSA) Gallery, Durban.
2014: Restless Spirt, Durban Art Gallery, Durban.
2007: Transformation, BAT Centre - Menzi Mchunu Gallery, Durban.
1998: Ungqofo Ulalele, BAT Centre - Menzi Mchunu Gallery, Durban.

Group Exhibitions (South Africa)

2014: Retroactive, KwaZulu-Natal Society of Art (KZNSA) Gallery, Durban.
2011: Three Parts More Harmony, Durban Art Gallery, Durban.
2011: Amandla, BAT Centre - Menzi Mchunu and Democratic Galleries, Durban.
2010: Amandla, Durban Art Gallery, Durban.
2009: A Known Heritage, Kizo Art Gallery, Umhlanga.
2004: InniBos Kunstefees, Nelspruit.
1995: Africus: Johannesburg Biennale ’95, Johannesburg
1995: 38 Essex Road, NSA Gallery, Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal
1994: National Arts Trust Exhibition, BAT Centre, Durban.
1992: Thupelo Workshop Exhibition, Federated Union of Black Artists (FUBA) Gallery, Johannesburg.
1991: Thupelo Workshop Exhibition, Federated Union of Black Artists (FUBA) Gallery, Johannesburg.
1990: Vulamehlo – Open Eye,  Durban Art Gallery, Durban.
1989: Five Friends, (Paul Sibisi, Mpolokeng Ramphomane, Sfiso kaMkame, Gordon Gabashane and Thami Jali), Natal Society of Art (NSA) Gallery, Durban.
1989: Objects of Utility, Federated Union of Black Artists (FUBA) Gallery, Johannesburg.
1988: Friends of Freedom, Federated Union of Black Artists (FUBA) Gallery, Johannesburg.
1980 - 1982: Festival of African Art, University of Zululand, Richards Bay.

Group Exhibitions (International)

1997: New Dehli Triennale, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Dehli.
1993: ART OMI, International Artists Workshop, New York.
1990: Art from South African Townships, Institute for Contemporary Arts, London.
1983: Art Communication, Indingilizi Gallery, Mbabane.

Workshops & Residencies

2023: ASAI Print Access Workshop, Wits School of Arts, Johannesburg.
1997: Artist in Residence, Edgewood College, Wisconsin.
1990: Zabalaza Festival, Institute of Contemporary Art, London.

Awards

1982: First Prize - Sculpture, Festival of African Arts, University of Zululand, Richard's Bay.

Other

2017: Judge, PPC Imaginarium Awards, South Africa.
2004: Re-established the ceramics studio, Rorke's Drift Art & Craft Centre, Kwa-Zulu Natal.
2000: Ceramic tile project, Matsulu Art Centre, Mpumalanga. 
1991: Trustee, Community Mural Projects, Cultural Trust, Durban.
1987: Pottery and sculpture teacher, Mofolo Art Centre, Soweto.
1983 - 1984: Founder, Art Communications, Natal Technikon (now Durban University of Technology).

Public collections

Artists for Human Rights Trust
Caversham Press
Campbell Collection, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.
Durban Art Gallery, Durban.
Phansi Museum
Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town.
Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg.
The Constitutional Court, Johannesburg.
University of Zululand, Richard's Bay.

Russel Hlongwane, Thami Jali, Mphendla Ndlela, (KZNSA Gallery, 2024).
Sithembiso Sangweni, Thami Jali, artist on a mission, (ASAI, 2018).
Thami Jali, Recalling Community Mural Projects, (ASAI, 2018).
Jenny Stretton, Thami Jali: Restless Spirit, (ASAI, 2018; originally published in 2014 by Durban Art Gallery).
Jenny Stretton, Thami Jali talks to curator Jenny Stretton about his vision for the future, (ASAI, 2018; originally published in 2014 by Durban Art Gallery).
Bren Brophy, Terry-Anne Stevenson reflects on an artistic life shared with Thami Jali, (ASAI, 2018; originally published in 2014 by Durban Art Gallery).
Witty Nyide, Directions to find Thami Jali (ASAI, 2018; originally published in 2014 by Durban Art Gallery).

KZNSA Gallery, Thami Jali: Mphendla Ndlela (2024).

S’bonelo Luthuli

b. 1981, Durban.

S’bonelo Luthuli’s ceramic pots draw their content from religious, traditional and heritage practices and customs. The textured details, which are worked into the pots, are related to to the way “ancestors are recognized in ritualistic incisions and marks of identity in their body”.

Education

2011 - 2012: Durban University of Technology (2nd year reached), Durban, KwaZulu Natal.

Solo Exhibitions (South Africa)

2014 - 2016: Song of the Soil, Durban Art Gallery, Durban; University of Cape Town Irma Stern Gallery, Cape Town; 6 Spin Street Restaurant and Gallery, Cape Town; Constitution Hill Woman’s Jail, Johannesburg.

Group Exhibitions (South Africa)

2016: Beyond Binaries, International Convention Centre, Durban.
2014: Decorex Joburg, Gallagher Convention Centre Midrand, Johannesburg.
2014: Adelaide Tambo School Charity Auction, Strauss and Co. Summer Place, Johannesburg
2014: Decorex Durban, International Convention Centre, Durban.
2013: The Adelaide Collection Exhibition, Sandton Civic Gallery, Johannesburg.
2013: 15th Durban Business Fair, International Convention Centre, Durban.
2013: Ceramics Southern Africa Regional, KwaZulu Natal Society of Art (KZNSA), Durban.
2013: ThereAfter, Steve Biko Gallery - Durban University of Technology, Durban.
2012: Corobrik National Ceramics Exhibition, Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria.
2012: Sasol New Signature Emerge, Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria.
2012: Ceramics Southern Africa Regional, Art Space, Durban.
2011: Izikhwepha Zethu (Our Strength), Durban Art Gallery, Durban.
2010: Ceramics Southern Africa National, Grande Provence, Western Cape.
2005: First Touch, BAT Centre, Durban.

Group Exhibitions (International)

2012: C3°1012: EARTH REVELATIONS. A Conversation in Clay, Amaridian Gallery, New York.

Awards

2013: Highly Commended Certificate, Ceramics Southern Africa Regional Exhibition, KwaZulu Natal Society of Art (KZNSA), Durban.
2012: Merit Award winner, Ceramics Southern Africa Regional Exhibition, Art Space, Durban.
2010: Premier Award winner, Ceramics Southern Africa National Exhibition, The Grande Provence Gallery, Western Cape.

Collections

Justice Albie Sachs.
Iziko South African National Gallery.
Gita Sahgal Private Collection.