Zanele Muholi makes a splash at Paris Art Fair

mambaonline.com:

Photos, paintings and sculptures by artist Zanele Muholi have been a hit in Paris Internationally acclaimed South African queer visual activist and photographer Sir Zanele Muholi is wowing visitors at the prestigious Art Paris Fair 2022 with a solo exhibition. Muholi – known for their long-running Faces and Phases series of black and white portraits commemorating black lesbians, and Somnyama Ngonyama, a self-portraiture series – is being praised both by collectors and the director of the fair.

Selected artworks in the form of paintings, photographs and sculptures were a hit and even sold out pre-show. This is Muholi’s first solo show at Art Paris Fair.

The Director of Art Paris, Guilaume Piens has high praise for both Muholi and their Paris gallerist Caraloe Kvasnevski, describing their booth as “definitely the most striking” one at the fair.

He also commended Kvasnevski for showcasing Muholi’s diverse works and extending his gratitude to the visual activist whom he has watched over the years. “I’ve witnessed Zanele Muholi since Paris Photo and seeing how incredible they keep growing is amazing, they have become the ultimate focus and favourite at this year’s Paris Art Fair, especially with the sculpture and paintings,” he stated   During the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Muholi settled in the peaceful rural setting of Umbumbulu in KwaZulu-Natal and gave their usual medium, the camera, a break.