A42 House: A new addition to Joburg’s cultural landscape
Joburg welcomes an imaginative new space in a residential street in Parktown North, where A42 House is reimagining heritage – and what a museum can be. Founded by Ngaire Blankenberg, the space is part members’ club, part community museum, and part evolving pan-African movement, transforming sites into regenerative creative destinations.
A42 House brings the arts into a domestic setting, built on the belief that museums should not be static institutions but active cultural spaces. Blankenberg describes this as "flipping museums for social impact," telling the Observer: "The notion of art contributing to wellness and mental health is really important."
It’s a compelling premise, and one we’re excited to see unfold. At the opening of A42 House's exhibition Grounded, artist Farieda Nazier spoke to American writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin's quote from the documentary I Am Not Your Negro where he says, "History is not the past. It is the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history. If we pretend otherwise, we are literally criminals." And this is what A42 House recognises and aspires to: to create spaces across the African continent that can carry its many histories. Spaces which allow the full range of emotions – joy and pain – to be felt, remembered, and to also evolve.
Part of this means garnering broader and sustained interest in museums and the arts, and supporting smaller museums and institutions. In Johannesburg, where the cultural scene is one of constant shift and change, the importance of having institutions rooted in the city, and that actively engage with it, cannot be understated. Blankenberg highlights how the African art world is very commercially driven, while museums and heritage spaces are usually publicly funded. In bridging the gap between these two sectors, Blankenberg hopes that both can become more sustainable, both financially and socially.
And with a varied programme of exhibitions, workshops, residencies, and talks, A42 House fosters storytelling and creative exchange, and ensures there is a dedicated space for dialogues to take root in. Visitors can even book a night in one of its "bedroom-exhibits" – spaces co-created with local artists. While the Parktown North house currently serves as A42’s headquarters, the vision is for a growing network that extends beyond Johannesburg, offering members access to hubs across the continent. Aside from supporting A42 House, membership gives you access to their co-working space, pool, and venue hire. Find out more here.
Inaugural exhibition: Grounded
Created in collaboration with Oliver Matamba, kumalo/turpin, Esinako Ndabeni, Khensani Mohlatlole, Farieda Nazier, and Simon Moshapo Jnr., Grounded weaves personal reflection with political and historical narratives. Moving through the rooms feels deliberately layered – a space for listening, repair, and radical imagination. Visitors are invited to leave their own written reflections on cards. For us, this was a welcome way to unravel the complex feelings that Joburg can evoke.
A more unusual element of the exhibition is that four of the bedrooms, designed by the artists on show, also function as accommodation. Spending a night (or more) in the house promises a richer engagement with the works, blurring the boundaries between visitor, resident, and participant. Curious? Book your stay.
Grounded runs until Fri, Jul 31, 2026. To make sure you don't miss any workshops or events A42 House runs alongside it, follow @a42.art on Instagram and keep an eye on our weekly exhibitions blog.
