Tana Malinga
A powerful new exhibition celebrating four decades of South Africa’s visual arts excellence opened today at the Standard Bank Art Lab in Sandton. Titled SBYA Visual Art 1984 – Now, the landmark showcase marks the 40th anniversary of the prestigious Standard Bank Young Artist Award (SBYA) for visual arts.
The exhibition, on view from 14 October 2025 to 31 January 2026 at the Art Lab’s new space in Nelson Mandela Square, brings together 40 artworks by 40 SBYA award recipients from 1984 to 2025. It offers visitors a sweeping journey through South Africa’s evolving social, political, and cultural landscape as interpreted by some of the country’s most influential artists.
Curated by Dr Same Mdluli, curator and manager of the Standard Bank Art Gallery and Art Lab, the exhibition draws on rare works from six major art collections: the Standard Bank Corporate Collection, SABC Art Collection, Rupert Museum, Wits Art Museum, Johannesburg Art Gallery, and Iziko Museums.
“This exhibition not only celebrates the works and artists behind them but also reinforces Standard Bank’s long-standing commitment to empowering visionary artistic talent in South Africa and across the continent,” said Dr Mdluli at the opening.
Artists featured include household names in South African contemporary art such as William Kentridge (1987), Margaret Voster (1988), Helen Sebidi (1989), Mary Sibande (2013), Mohau Modisakeng (2016), Beth Diane Armstrong (2017), and Blessing Ngobeni (2020). The artworks span a variety of mediums—painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, and installation—capturing South Africa’s shifting historical and cultural moments, from the turbulent 1980s through to today.
Mdluli noted that the exhibition reflects the “artistic and institutional dynamics that shape our art historical reality” and positions the visual arts as both record and reflection of South Africa’s past and present.
“It affords us an opportunity to engage with these works in ways that deepen our understanding of who we are, who we’ve been, and who we’re becoming as a culture and society,” she said.
In addition to the exhibition, the Art Lab has curated a dynamic programme of talks, school visits, and family-friendly activations throughout the summer season, designed to make the arts more accessible and participatory for the public.
Yolisa Koza, Head of Brand Experience at Standard Bank Group, highlighted the broader role of the arts in national development:
“This exhibition underscores our commitment to supporting and enabling the arts not only as a driver of economic transformation, but as a key component of building a shared cultural heritage,” said Koza. “The SBYA award has for 40 years uplifted young creatives whose work continues to shape the future of South African art.”
As South Africa prepares to host the G20 and B20 summits, the exhibition also serves as a timely reminder of the importance of cultural investment and the arts’ role in inclusive economic growth.
With the convergence of public and private art collections, the exhibition stands as a testament to how collaboration across sectors can expand access to cultural heritage and amplify South Africa’s artistic legacy on a global stage.
