FESTIVAL ARTIST: Mary Sibande

I GOT UP AT ...

In association with SMAC Gallery

Curated by Lawrence Lemaoana

OPENING: SATURDAY 7 JUNE @ 14.00

​GUEST SPEAKER: Frank Kilbourn

​VENUE:  FynArts Gallery, The Courtyard, 2 Harbour Road

Renowned for her powerful installations and sculptures exploring race, identity, and gender, Mary honours the resilience of black women. Through bold and imaginative storytelling, she reimagines history, offering a vision of empowerment and transformation. 

Central to her practice is the recurring character Sophie, an avatar modelled on the artist’s own image, inspired by her family’s history of domestic labour. 

Dressed in elaborate Victorian-style gowns fused with the uniforms of domestic workers, Sophie serves as a powerful symbol of the intersection between servitude and aspiration. By transforming the narrative of servitude into one of autonomy and self-expression, Mary challenges societal stereotypes and celebrates Black womanhood.

Mary’s work has been featured in major exhibitions worldwide, including the Venice Biennale and the Lyon Biennale. Mary has received numerous accolades, including the 2021 Helgaard Steyn Prize for Sculpture and the 2017 Smithsonian National Museum of African Arts Award. In 2024, Mary was awarded the prestigious Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres – Knighthood for her work in the arts by the French government and Ambassador Martinon. 

Currently based in Johannesburg, Sibande continues to create work that inspires dialogue about identity, social justice, and the transformative power of art. Through her initiative Occupying The Gallery, Mary provides platforms for emerging artists and advocates for alternative educational support and systems in the local creative community. 

We are grateful to the SMAC Gallery for their valued support and collaboration.