Art Week Mzansi Style : South African Edition by Petra Mason

'Always something new out of Africa’  - the Latin phrase, attributed to Pliny the Elder (AD 23-79) an Early Roman Empire naturalist and philosopher still rings true in 2025 – evidenced by South Africa’s Art Week looks.

Non-binary Fashion Stylist Thapelo Mofokeng © Thekiso Mokhele   

'We can never have enough of seeing black experiences presented in a loving, caring, joyful, emancipatory, triumphant and autobiographical way'. 

- Cameroonian-Swiss Curator Koyo Kouoh (b.1967 - d. 2025) 

Johannesburg based Artist Buqaqawuli Thamani Nobakada © Thekiso Mokhele 
 

South African photographers Thekiso Mokhele and Sfiso Nkadimeng interlock with tribes of artists, collectors, dealers, museum directors, models and curators who all agree: when it comes to art week on the Continent, your look is a crucial part of the programme.

Benin born multidiscipliary Artist Dominique Zinkpe © Thekiso Mokhele 

At art fairs everywhere in the world Vernissage VIP night is always a scene, a confident presentation of personal style interacting with art and an abundance of bubbly.

Still Artists Residency panel group photo © Sfiso Nkadimeng 

STILL Artist Residency presented an afternoon of talks at Cape Town’s Hugo Social Club that included artists' Mikhailia Peterson, Zana Masombuka, Helena Uambembe, Siwa Mgoboza and STILL founder, American born, Johannesburg based Ayana V. Jackson.

Hyacinthe Kouassi © Sfiso Nkadimeng 

Cape and Munich based Curator Zakhirah Rabaney © Sfiso Nkadimeng 

Gallery Director Lerato Bereng at BMW Art Generation at Nirox Sculpture Park  © Kim Kandan 

Stevenson Gallery Director Lerato Bereng often spends long hours in the booth: ‘If you look around art fair booths in London, Basel, New York the seasoned dealer may be stylishly adorned but almost certainly floating on a cloud in the form of an ergonomically sound pair of sneakers. I also dress according to my mood. Last September I was most certainly in a Naija mood having come back from Lagos days before, so it was a chance to debut all the fab new spoils.’

'Outdress your circumstances' 

Trevor Stuurman, Visual Artist and Publisher of  MANOR Africa © Thekiso Mokhele 

FNB Art Joburg turns 18 this year and is Africa's longest running art fair. Opens to the public on 5th September artjoburg.com/