Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Federated Union of Black Artists (FUBA), one of South Africa’s most radical artist unions, Keyes Art Mile teams up with the Friends of Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG) for the November edition of Art and Design Saturdays. 

Founded in 1978 by theatre producer Benjy Francis and novelist and poet Sipho Sepamla, FUBA was envisioned as a hub and learning centre for black artists across a variety of mediums, offering an alternative to Bantu education and a haven from the harsh pressures of apartheid. The union soon expanded to include the FUBA Academy of Arts, the FUBA School of Drama and Visual Arts and the FUBA School of Music, with alumni such as celebrated curator, art critic and artist David Koloane who also co-founded the FUBA Gallery.

Featuring artworks, artefacts and documents chronicling FUBA’s legacy, the Keyes Art Mile exhibition FUBA: Preserving the Legacy delves into JAG’s extensive FUBA archive. Artists featured include rising stars like BP Portrait award-winning painter Johannes Phokela, whose artworks subvert classic Western masterpieces, and established artists like the renowned artist Sam Nhlengthwa who also taught at FUBA.

Discussions and artist walkabouts
10:00 at Circa Artist-led exhibition walkabout of Polish artist Andrzej Urbanski's new exhibition.
11:00 at Everard Read Panel discussion in conjunction with Blessing Ngobeni's new exhibition with artists Thembinkosi Goniwe, Teresa Kutala Firmino, Rodney Place and art critic Athi Mongezeleli Joja.
11:30 at Mesh Club Panel discussion led by Bag Factory Artists’ Studios chairperson Makgati Molebatsi in conversation with FUBA lecturer Bongiwe Dhlomo and alumni artists Motsumi Makhene and Johannes Phokela.