Kentridge, William (1955 – )

William Kentridge was born in 1955 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Kentridge grew up in a family of prominent
South African attorneys. His father Sydney is among the most renowned lawyers in the country; particularly
engaged in defending victims of abuse during apartheid, he led the inquest into Steve Biko’s death in 1977.

Kentridge earned a B.A. in politics and African studies in 1976 from the University of the Witwatersrand in
Johannesburg. From 1976 – 1978 he studied fine art at the Johannesburg Art Foundation, where he later taught
printmaking. In 1979, Kentridge had his first solo exhibition at the Market Gallery in Johannesburg. He continued
to exhibit his drawings and prints throughout the 1980’s

In the mid 70’s Kentridge became active in film and theatre, working as a writer, director, actor and set designer.
During 1981 – 1982 he completed a course in theatre in Paris.

William Kentridge is perhaps now best known for his films, theatre and opera. When you walk into any of the
well known museums and institutions all over the world, one will quickly recognize that the work of Kentridge
is present in the space, through the light and shadows, the sounds spilling from gallery to gallery. The prints of
William Kentridge are another form of his art. They are varied and as complex as his films. In much the same way

the artist himself uses printmaking in the process of developing his thoughts, an effort is required by the viewer,
who must be an active participant in constructing the past and imagining the future.

Read Artist CV - CLICK HERE

William Kentridge:

Born: 1955 Johannesburg.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

2007 'What Will Come' Stadel Museum, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
'What Will Come', Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg
2006 'William Kentridge/The Magic Flute: drawings and projections', Marian Goodman Gallery, New York
'William Kentridge: 9 Drawings for Projection', Museum of Modern Art, New York
'Black Box/Chambre Noire' Johannesburg Art Gallery
2005 'William Kentridge' Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg
Guggenheim Museum, Berlin, Germany
2004 'William Kentridge', Castello di Rivoli, Museo d'Arte Contemporanea, Rivoli, Italy
2001 'William Kentridge', Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC
2000 'William Kentridge: New Work', Marian Goodman Gallery, New York
1999 'Projects 68: William Kentridge', Museum of Modern Art, New York
'Stereoscope', Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg
1998 'William Kentridge', The Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego
'William Kentridge', Stephen Friedman Gallery and A22 Gallery, London
'William Kentridge', Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels
1997 'Applied Drawings', Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg
1994 'Felix in Exile', Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg
1992 'Drawings for Projection', Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg
1991 'Little Morals', Taking Liberties Gallery, Durban, with Deborah Bell and Robert Hodgins
1990 'William Kentridge: Drawings and Graphics', Cassirer Fine Art
1989 'Responsible Hedonism', Vanessa Devereux Gallery, London
1987 'In the Heart of the Beast', Vanessa Devereux Gallery, London
'Standard Bank Young Artist Award' exhibition, Grahamstown, South Africa, July (touring Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg; University Art Galleries, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg; University Art Gallery UNISA, Pretoria; Durban Art Gallery, Durban)
1985 'William Kentridge', Cassirer Fine Art, Johannesburg
1981 'Domestic Scenes', The Market Gallery, Johannesburg
1979 'William Kentridge', The Market Gallery, Johannesburg

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITION:

2007 'Lift Off Part I', Goodman Gallery Cape, Cape Town
'Local Racism, Global Apartheid', Centre for Contemporary Culture
2006 'Venice-Istanbul', Istanbul Museum of Modern Art
2005 'The Experience of Art', Italian Pavillion, Venice Biennale
2004 'Africa Remix', Museum Kunst Palast, Düat;sseldorf, Germany
'Faces in the Crowd/Volti nella Folla', Whitechapel Art Gallery, London
2003 'Transferts', Palais des Beaux Arts, Brussels
2002 'Documenta XI', Museum Fredericianum, Kassel, Germany
2001 'Animations', P.S.1, New York
'Lateral thinking: Art of the 1990's', Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego
2000 'Seventh Havana Biennale: Closer to One Another', Havana, Cuba
1999 'Kunstwelten im Dialog', Museum Ludwig,Cologne
1998 'Hugo Boss Prize Exhibition', Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Soho, New York
1997 'Documenta X', Museum Fredericianum, Kassel, Germany
'Second Johannesburg Biennale: Trade Routes: History and Geography', Johannesburg
1996 'Faultlines: Inquiries into Truth and Reconciliation', The Castle, Cape Town
1995 'Africus: First Johannesburg Biennal
1990 'Art from South Africa', Museum of Modern Art, Oxford
1989 'African Encounters', Dome Gallery, New York
1987 'Three Hogarth Satires', with Deborah Bell and Robert Horgins, at University Art Galleries
1985 Cape Town Triennial, South African National Gallery, Cape Town
1981 'National Graphic Show' South African Association of Arts, Bellville, Cape Town

SELECTED THEATRE:

2005 Die Zauberflöte; Kentridge directs. Premiere at La Monnaie, Brussels, travelling to Lille, Naples, Geneva, Cape Town and Johannesburg
1997 Ubu and the Truth Commission; Kentridge conceives and directs this multi-media theatre production written by Jane Taylor, which has performances in Grahamstown, Avignon, Johannesburg, Stellenbosch, Zurich, New York, Munich, Basel, Stockholm, Prague, Rome, Toulouse and London, amongst others
1995 Faustus in Africa!; Kentridge conceives and directs this multi-media theatre production, which tours to Grahamstown, Hanover, Basel, London, Lisbon, Seville, Brussels, Marseilles, Paris, Rome and Jerusalem
1993 Woyzeck on the Highveld'; Kentridge directs and creates animation for production, which has performances at venues including Grahamstown, Brussels, Glasgow, New York, Hong Kong, Adelaide and Jerusalem
1979 Dikhitsheneng: Kentridge scripts and directs Junction Avenue Theatre Company

AWARDS:

2007 Order of Ikhamanga (Silver), National Orders, Pretoria
2006 Jesse L. Rosenberger Medal, Univesity of Chicago (and Kowler Fellowship)
2004 Honorary Degree of Doctor of Literature, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

EDUCATION:

1973-6 Graduated from University of Witwatersrand with BA in Politics and African Studies
1976-8 Studied art at the Johannesburg Art Foundation
1981-2 Studied mime and theatre at the Ecole Jacques Lecoq in Paris
2004 Honorary Degree of Doctor of Literature, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg