Nontobeko Ntombela

Ntombela began her career as a curator in 2002 and has worked at various institutions, including the Art for Humanity (2000-2002), BAT Centre (2002-2005), Durban University Art Gallery (2005-2010), and the Johannesburg Art Gallery (2010-2012), where she curated numerous exhibitions. In 2012, Ntombela took up an academic position at Wits, developing the curatorial program, which was launched in 2019. Since joining Wits, her curatorial practice has shifted more toward centring archival and research-driven historical curatorial projects. Some of her most notable curatorial projects include: “Then I Knew I Was Good at Painting: Esther Mahlangu, A Retrospective (2024-2025) at Iziko National Gallery and Wits Art Museum, "When Rain Clouds Gather: South African Black Women Artists 1940–2000" (2022-2023) at the Norval Foundation in Cape Town, The Burden of Memory (2019) a multiple cite event in the city of Yaoundé Cameroon; From No Fixed Place (ten Solo projects) at Cape Town Art Fair (2018). Ntombela has also served in various capacities on several boards and committees for organisations such as the Department of Arts and Culture, VANSA (Visual Arts Network of South Africa), National Arts Council, KZNSA (KwaZulu Natal Society of Arts), Art for Human Rights Trust, Johannesburg Art Gallery, and UNISA Art Gallery.

Ears on the Ground: Curatorial Approaches and South African Women Artists

In this presentation, I reflect on listening as a curatorial approach. Some of the exhibitions I might mention include A Fragile Archive (2013) at Johannesburg Art Gallery, When Rain Clouds Gather: South African Black Women Artists 1940–2000 (2022-2023) at Norval Foundation in Cape Town, and “Then I Knew I Was Good At Painting: Esther Mahlangu, A Retrospective” (2024-2025) at Iziko National Art Gallery and Wits Art Museum in Johannesburg.