Renowned South African artist Dr Esther Mahlangu’s global retrospective exhibition, which opens in Cape Town next month, will attract tourists and showcase South Africa’s cultural heritage on the global stage.
The exhibition titled, ‘Then I Knew I was Good at Painting’: Esther Mahlangu, A Retrospective, opens at Cape Town’s Iziko Museum on February 17, running until August 11. It is a showcase of the work she has produced throughout a career spanning more than 50 years, during which she has earned global acclaim for her brightly coloured, geometric artwork which draws on Ndebele mural painting practices.
From Cape Town, the retrospective will head to the Wits Art Museum in Johannesburg, and will move to the United States in early 2026.
According to organisers, the exhibition recognises Mahlangu as one of the few South African artists who have had the opportunity to present a retrospective exhibition in world-renowned museums.
Craig Mark, Director of the Melrose Gallery, Mahlangu’s global representatives said: “Cultural tourism is showing increasing demand globally and we are confident that the Retrospective Exhibition will not only attract tourists to Cape Town but will be, for many, one of the highlights of their visit.
“Dr Mahlangu is a national treasure and many people have already started to express interest in coming to Cape Town from all over the country to see the show and to celebrate Dr Mahlangu's achievements with her.”
Mahlangu was born in Mpumalanga and her art was taken to Paris in 1989. She has since then gone on to exhibit in major museums around the world, including in Paris, London and New York. Along with the many art accolades she has received over the course of her career, she has also been recognised for her role in promoting tourism and cultural exchange in South Africa.
She was the recipient of the 2016 Minister’s Award at the Lilizela Awards for being “an outstanding ambassador for South Africa’s rich cultural offerings”.
Acting CEO of Iziko Museums, Dr Bongani Ndhlovu said: “Iziko Museums is honoured to celebrate the living legend, Dr Esther Mahlangu, and to host this colossal showcase where creativity, culture, and aesthetics are fused.”
Visitors to the exhibition, curated by Nontobeko Ntombela, will be able to see the BMW that Mahlangu painted in her signature style in 1991. Her car was the first created by a woman in the BMW Art Car initiative, which has showcased iconic artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. The retrospective marks the first time Mahlangu’s car will be exhibited in South Africa.
Ntombela said of the exhibition: “The retrospective pays homage to Esther Mahlangu's unique approach to art, which intersects African cultures with modernity and the contemporary. The exhibition celebrates Mahlangu’s voice, agency, and pioneering spirit, symbolising her self-enunciation, self-determination and creativity.”
