> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.spacesmagazine.africa/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Magical Moment AFRICAN ART SPACES Came to Life! - URL: https://www.spacesmagazine.africa/the-magical-moment-african-art-spaces-came-to-life/ - Published: 2026-10-12T14:09:44.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-13T08:32:08.000Z - Author: MAN'S NOT YANDHI - Tags: Art, Legacy > Where community found a home in art The South African art scene has long been shaped by conversations around structural inequality, limited access (for all, not just a few), and the persistent disconnect between artists and the local art world they aspire to thrive in. These challenges have fuelled an understandable, growing criticism of what many describe as "commercial tokenism" — a term used to highlight the barriers that continue to limit meaningful opportunities, ownership and long-term sustainability for many local and especially diverse artists. It is no secret that institutional and commercial support within South Africa's art ecosystem has often gravitated towards traditional fine art. In fact, it’s probably true that fine art is the most lucrative form and applied or functional art has historically received far less investment and backing. Yet all these creative practices continue to shape how we experience the world around us, but why do we mostly celebrate the form that hangs on our walls more than the art that shapes the spaces we inhabit? While this imbalance has created opportunities for some, it has also left many other artistic practices with far fewer pathways to recognition, exhibition and commercial success. From murals and illustration to graffiti, craft-making and earthworks that use natural elements as a creative medium, many artists continue to navigate an industry with limited spaces designed to amplify and sustain their work. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/39/8539220a-facb-4bd9-81c1-fde9c6ed0f13/content/images/2026/10/480808754_558321780594777_130957931125551274_n.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/39/8539220a-facb-4bd9-81c1-fde9c6ed0f13/content/images/2026/10/480811769_558322030594752_2589173077458261217_n--2-.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/39/8539220a-facb-4bd9-81c1-fde9c6ed0f13/content/images/2026/10/481452054_558321800594775_4849531852454302495_n.jpg) Art SPACES (2024) When you give it a thought, societally, there also appears to be a growing crisis of confidence surrounding the local art scene as a whole. Even from the outside looking in, it is difficult to ignore the sense of uncertainty that seems to shape much of the industry's narrative, which has been reinforced by those actively participating in it. This point is particularly ironic given the extraordinary calibre of work South African artists continue to produce, which you can’t deny. The creativity has never been in question; what remains uncertain is whether the structures surrounding it are equipped to recognise & support that excellence. Perhaps this is why the conversation has shifted beyond simply creating more opportunities and towards reimagining the art space and experiences through which creativity is valued. It is within this current industry analysis that a platform like SPACES AFRICA has sought to challenge the “norm” or experiential standards — not by replacing the existing systems, but by proving what is possible for artists and creative communities alike through an AFRICAN ART SPACES experience. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/39/8539220a-facb-4bd9-81c1-fde9c6ed0f13/content/images/2026/10/480792334_558321833928105_5919087224040704501_n.jpg) Art SPACES (2024) When **AFRICAN ART SPACES** debuted in 2024, it marked more than the launch of a new artistic encounter — it was another milestone in SPACES AFRICA's ongoing mission to reimagine a space where African art can be expressed & celebrated. Presented in collaboration with Robertsons Spice, that inaugural Art SPACES edition expanded the platform’s ecosystem beyond fashion, culinary, and music, introducing a diverse showcase dedicated to contemporary visual culture. Following the success of **FASHION SPACES** and **MUSIC SPACES**, and building on the vision shared throughout every SPACES touchpoint, Art SPACES reinforced a belief that African art, regardless of format, deserves environments designed with collaboration, experimentation and cultural authenticity in mind. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/39/8539220a-facb-4bd9-81c1-fde9c6ed0f13/content/images/2026/10/481150210_558321787261443_4414393375710078288_n.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/39/8539220a-facb-4bd9-81c1-fde9c6ed0f13/content/images/2026/10/481246138_558321970594758_3639778693814848876_n.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/39/8539220a-facb-4bd9-81c1-fde9c6ed0f13/content/images/2026/10/481084127_558321847261437_4511690515290118037_n.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/39/8539220a-facb-4bd9-81c1-fde9c6ed0f13/content/images/2026/10/481253066_558321790594776_1728721940158058163_n-1.jpg) Art SPACES (2024) --- Rather than limiting itself to a single artistic discipline, the exhibition brought together artists working across contemporary street art, illustration, design, installation art and mixed media to create a colourful gathering curated by artists, for artists. By transforming an Urban Space, Playground in Braamfontein became the open urban venue that was used to curate an immersive artistic landscape, where invited guests & visitors could engage directly with artistic works from select multidisciplinary creatives: - *Cee The Creator* - *Kim Van Vuuren* - *Naledi Modupi* - *Zee Feels* - *Njabulo Hlophe* - *That Art Kid Lari* - *Ellsphee* - *Damn Vandal* - *OUTSIDETHEWOODS* - *Joburg Ash* Launching with an exclusive opening evening before welcoming the public the following day, the moment served as a testament to SPACES AFRICA’s purpose to create immersive cultural encountersthatexist beyond the traditional gallery format — bringing together visual art, music and community under one roof. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/39/8539220a-facb-4bd9-81c1-fde9c6ed0f13/content/images/2026/10/481336920_558322060594749_6823921053041992216_n.jpg) Art SPACES (2024) --- **A Landmark Collaboration** One of the defining moments of Art SPACES came with the unveiling of **The Art of Flavour**, a collaborative collection created in partnership with Robertsons Spice as part of the brand's centenary celebrations. The exhibition featured original commissioned works by Naledi Modupi, Zinhle Sithebe (Zee Feels), Njabulo Hlophe, Larissa Mwanyama (That Art Kid Lari), Sphelele Gumede (Ellsphee) and Nolan C. Kalwandu (OUTSIDETHEWOODS), each interpreting the relationship between flavour, memory, creativity and culture through their own artistic language. For SPACES AFRICA, the fusion represented a significant key chapter. Since its founding in 2016, the platform has remained intentionally selective in the partnerships it pursues, prioritising creative synergies rooted in authentic cultural representation. The Robertsons piece marked the platform’s latest and most ambitious art-centric brand rollout to date, demonstrating how meaningful partnerships between brands and creatives can exist without compromising the artist’s voice. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/39/8539220a-facb-4bd9-81c1-fde9c6ed0f13/content/images/2026/10/480625468_558321813928107_7411974009085296499_n.jpg) Art SPACES (2024) --- **Extending the Experience to Durban** The legacy of the exhibition extended beyond Johannesburg with a surprise showcase hosted at an exclusive Durban private members’ club, further expanding the reach of the AFRICAN ART SPACES vision. Extending this reach beyond Johannesburg, Art SPACES found a second home in Durban’s exclusive cultural space, where the complete exhibition remained on display for the following month, introducing the work to new audiences while reinforcing the exhibition’s ambition to exist as a living cultural movement rather than a once-off event. **Where Art, Music and Community Met** Thinking and reflecting on how the SPACES AFRICA platform showed up for art, Art SPACES was never intended to be solely an exhibition. Throughout that weekend, the platform evolved into a pulsing celebration of contemporary African culture, where visual art, music and people existed in a powerful exchange of creative expression. Opening events were hosted by Leddi G, Siya "Scoop" Ngwekazi, Kabelo Moremi and Luthando Shosha, while performances and DJ sets from Maglera Doe Boy, Wendy Ntinezo, FifLaaa, Deniece Marz, Chaxllie, Shekhinah, A-Reece, Yolophonik, Marcus Harvey, Khuli Chana, Tinx, Franadilla, Namakau Star, Lenzowannabenzo and many others transformed the exhibition into a fully immersive and vibrant connection through art. **A Defining Chapter in the SPACES AFRICA Journey** Further highlighting the vision behind the initiative, SPACES AFRICA Chief Creative Officer Jay Kayembe described AFRICAN ART SPACES in 2024 as a natural extension of the platform’s broader purpose. > At SPACES AFRICA, we are dedicated to elevating creative ambition through authentic and unique collaboration. By combining our expertise within the agency alongside the unconventional umbrella platform that is SPACES AFRICA, we hope to create a symbiotic relationship between creatives, platforms and brands that helps reshape our industry. AFRICAN ART SPACES exists to provide credible representation for multidisciplinary artists while creating space for unconventional creative expression. Looking back, the inaugural AFRICAN ART SPACES still stands as a defining chapter in the SPACES AFRICA story. More than an exhibition, it again demonstrated the platform's commitment to building lasting ecosystems for African creativity — spaces where artists could collaborate, audiences could experience art in new ways, and meaningful partnerships could emerge without losing sight of the soul of originality. As SPACES AFRICA continues to live its story, AFRICAN ART SPACES remains an important reminder of the enduring vision: *Reimagining space. Documenting culture. Championing the future.*