New exhibition celebrates 35 years of Artist Proof Studio

A walk through a Strauss & Co exhibition with senior art specialist and head curator Wilhelm van Rensburg is always a treat. Taking a saunter with him for his latest offering is no exception.

Titled Artist Proof Studio at 35: A Continuing Commitment to Artists, Access and Excellence, the Joburg show forms part of the auction house’s annual Legacy series, which explores the enduring influence of South African modernists on contemporary artists. Previous editions have paired figures such as Dorothy Kay with Mary Sibande (2023), and Gerard Sekoto with Lena Hugo (2025). This year’s edition – while brilliant and unmissable as ever – is a little different.

The exhibition focuses on Artist Proof Studio (APS), marking more than three decades as one of South Africa’s most influential public-benefit art schools. Founded in 1991, it was conceived as an open-access space rooted in equality, opportunity and social justice, and has since etched itself deeply into the South African cultural scene.

“Artist Proof Studio was founded on the belief that creativity, imagination and technical skill can open possibilities where there are few,” says co-founder Kim Berman.

Training the greats

Guided by the principles of ubuntu, APS has trained more than 600 artists, many of whom have gone on to become respected practitioners, printmakers and educators. Its workshop has also produced editions with leading names, including William Kentridge and Sibande.

The exhibition brings together works by 70 artists, selected from those who have passed through the studio’s doors, pairing early archive prints with more recent works to trace the institution’s development over time. Excerpts from artist interviews add a personal layer, while a series of linocut portraits by current APS students stands out as a highlight. If you’re familiar with past alumni, it becomes a subtle game of spot the artist, with figures including Nelson Makamo, DuduBloom More, Lebohang Motaung and Minenkulu Ngoyi.

The exhibition forms part of Strauss & Co’s broader education programme, which spans lectures, masterclasses, walkabouts, school tours and public events. At a time when many public art institutions are under strain, the programme plays an important role in widening access to art, supporting artists and building audiences.

This year, for example, a workshop brought together student teachers from Wits University and the University of Johannesburg, along with in-service educators. “Education forms a key part of the Legacy exhibition,” says Van Rensburg. “We focused on the difference between printing and printmaking, introducing core techniques through hands-on demonstrations.”

Own part of the legacy

For those inspired to take a piece home, a timed online auction of APS prints takes place on April 17. It features works by artists including Mario Soares, Phillemon Hlungwani, Bambo Sibiya and Kentridge, with proceeds supporting the studio. It’s a great opportunity to add to an existing collection, or a strong entry point for new collectors looking to begin with works that are both accessible and significant.

The exhibition is open to the public Monday to Friday, 9am-4pm at Strauss & Co, 89 Central Street, Houghton. For more, visit straussart.co.za, artistproofstudio.co.za.

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_{Top image: ‘Rank to Rank Local 2025’ by Mathembe Hlelo Molefe; lithograph and screen print on paper. Picture: supplied.}