The Standard Bank Gallery
The Standard Bank Gallery is an inspirational exhibition space, situated in the vibrant heart of downtown Jozi. Since it opened in 1990, it has established itself as one of the city’s principal fine art venues.
The gallery offers a dynamic exhibition programme, serving as a testament to Standard Bank’s true commitment to cultural development. It is operated on a non-commercial basis.
Each year, the gallery showcases work by the cream of the local art world and, from time to time, major international shows. One of the most popular events is the annual exhibition by the incumbent winner of the coveted Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year Award. Winners are chosen on merit, and works are often of a controversial nature. Some of the previous winners include William Kentridge (1987), Jane Alexander (1995), Sam Nhlengethwa (1994), Pippa Skotnes (1993), Tommy Motswai (1992), Andries Botha (1991) and Bonnie Ntshalintshali with Fee Halstead-Berning (1990). Many of these visionary young artists have risen to major international acclaim.
The gallery has hosted retrospective exhibitions by prolific South African masters, including Irma Stern, Gerard Sekoto and Cyprian Shilakoe. Contemporary South African artists such as Penny Siopis, Willem Boshoff, Karel Nel and Wayne Barker have also lent their vibrant creative energies to the gallery.
The Standard Bank Gallery was the first institution to bring original works by a 20th century European artist to South Africa with the Marc Chagall exhibition in 2000 followed by Joan Miro and, in 2006, the record breaking Picasso and Africa exhibition. South Africa’s own internationally acclaimed Marlene Dumas had her first solo exhibition on home soil in 2007.