Mid-century clay, culture and creativity

An exhibition and auction of Kalahari Studio ceramics shines a light on a legendary local creative brand we should all know.
2 mins read

In the 1940s, two Latvian immigrant artists, Aleksanders Klopcanovs and Elma Vestman, arrived in South Africa and founded the Kalahari Studio, a ceramics hub that seamlessly blended modernist design with local indigenous forms. While their work left a lasting impact on the decorative arts and South African art history, it’s evident that the country itself played a pivotal role in shaping their creations.

Now, Strauss & Co’s Houghton office has put together a stunning public exhibition showcasing Kalahari Studio. The auction house’s art specialist and curator Wilhelm van Rensburg assembled the display to coincide with a sale of 36 pieces of Kalahari Studio ceramics, and the launch of Kalahari Studio: Modernist Design, African Spirit, written by Antonio Fornali. It is the definitive book on Kalahari Studio ceramics and many of the pieces in the exhibition come from Fornali’s personal collection, which he has carefully curated over decades.

Exhibition highlights include an original painted Kalahari Studio plaque, charming three-footed triangular jugs with geometric patterns, dishes inspired by San rock art, sculptural heads and bowls with woven leather straps.

Lot 28. Picture: Suppied.

Work that holds its own

Klopcanovs and Vestman, both born in the early 1900s, studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Riga, Latvia. Klopcanovs specialised in figurative and mural painting as well as sculpture, while Vestman focused on ceramics. After a stint in Sweden, the couple moved to South Africa and worked at Linn Ware Pottery. They opened their own studio in 1948 – first in Bramley, Joburg, and later in Cape Town. Vestman named the studio “Kalahari”, inspired by their new home and the desert’s earthy tones, as well as the terracotta clay used in their work.

Kalahari Studio’s creations spanned a variety of styles, from figurative pieces and sculptures to abstract, biomorphic vases, bowls, platters and the studio’s renowned wall plaques. Today, their work is a prized gem for mid-century collectors. As Van Rensburg points out, “Kalahari Studio work truly holds its own within the broader mid-century movement.”

Lot 24. Picture: Supplied.

Their pieces combined modernist organic, abstract and biomorphic forms with Southern African imagery and motifs. These included Zulu and Ndebele-inspired patterns, representations of San rock art, and depictions of Ndebele and Zulu people – often featuring intricate details of headdresses and accessories. Vestman was also influenced by Latvian folk embroidery and Scandinavian weaving design elements.

While the work of Klopcanovs and Vestman is undeniably beautiful and skilfully crafted, it’s crucial to note that many of their ceramics depicted African women, cultural artifacts and indigenous patterns. This has sparked ongoing academic discussions around cultural appropriation, the use of cultural subjects, and the commodification of such imagery – issues that continue to resonate in both past and present contexts.

Lot 33. Picture: Supplied.

Strauss & Co’s Kalahari Studio exhibition will be on display from February 3-18 2025, at 89 Central Street, Houghton Estate. A free exhibition walkabout with Wilhelm van Rensburg will take place every Tuesday at 11am.Kalahari Studio: Modernist Design, African Spirit’, by Antonio Fornali, is available for purchase (R1,500 for the standard edition and R3,000 for the deluxe edition, which includes a print). The online auction is now live and will close at one-minute intervals from 12pm on February 10. For more details, visit Straussart.co.za.

Top image: Lot 7. Picture: Supplied.

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Jo Buitendach

If it happened in Hollywood, design or pop culture, Jo Buitendach knows about it. Having had an award-winning career in tourism, Jo took the plunge and became a journalist. She now writes for a variety of leading publications on a broad range of subjects including pop culture, art, Joburg, jewellery, history, cultural issues and local design.

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