Dr Esther Mahlangu’s art has been the talk of Atlanta in the USA recently, with Alicia Keys curating a special collection featuring Dr Mahlangu’s work and John Legend stopping by at another exhibition in support of our local legend!
Atlanta, United States of America (16 September 2024) — Widely celebrated South African artist and local ‘Art Gogo’ Dr Esther Mahlangu’s art is having a well-deserved moment in the spotlight yet again thanks to an exhibition that has attracted the likes of John Legend and another that’s been curated by none-other-than Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz.
Following a whirlwind of excitement that saw Dr Mahlangu’s historic art car come home for the first time in decades before taking off on a world tour and a solo exhibition in New York, other works from the Ndebele star have been attracting acclaimed attention in Atlanta.
‘Heritage Hues’, an exhibition by Dr. Mahlangu that was co-curated by Hassan Smith at ZuCot Gallery presents a selection of her works in fully-fledged vibrancy and Ndebele flair. For Africans in the diaspora, it’s more than an art exhibition from a giant in the field; but also a means of connecting others to their roots through the medium.
The exhibition was recently enjoyed by Mr John Legend himself, who popped into Dr Mahlangu’s world in Atlanta for the opening in visible awe.
But Mr Legend wasn’t the only celebrity celebrating Esther.
In another curation by Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz, Dr Mahlangu’s work takes centre stage once again as part of ‘Giants’ at The High Museum of Art, also in Atlanta, following its run in Brooklyn.
The art on display comes from the collection of the music legends themselves, with Dr Mahlangu’s work featuring amongst 115 objects and 98 major artworks, including the likes of Nick Cave and Lorna Simpson.
For South Africans and fans of Dr Mahlangu, it’s incredibly inspiring to see how far our artists journey has taken her, and even more enriching to see how much power art so deeply rooted in a slice of South Africa’s culture has proven to be.
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