ESTHER MAHLANGU: TIME IN COLOR

Ross + Kramer is pleased to present Esther Mahlangu: Time in Color, a solo exhibition of work by Dr. Esther Mahlangu.

November 21, 2024 – January 25, 2025

Inspired by the traditional Ndebele painting style—which she learned from her mother and grandmother—Mahlangu’s bright, modern, abstract paintings celebrate the principles of ‘Sacred Geometry’ through their balance and harmony of line, color, and form. Bringing this traditional style to new platforms and mediums, Mahlangu has reimagined Ndebele design to tell contemporary stories. Her distinctive style goes beyond celebrating her heritage to address broader themes of identity and the interconnectedness of all living beings. Throughout her career, spanning seven decades, Mahlangu has made invaluable contributions to the contemporary art world, expanding the canon of abstract painting. The exhibition includes over 30 paintings by Mahlangu, created over a 10 year period—from 2011 to 2021—as well as a fully handpainted art car.

Dr. Esther Mahlangu’s work gained international recognition in the 1980’s when she was commissioned to paint a replica of her muraled home for the eminent Magiciens de la terre exhibition at the Centre Pompidou (Paris, France). Soon after, Mahlangu was asked to create murals on the walls of the Musee d’Art Contemporain in Montréal, Canada. Since then, she has spent decades making art, and has collaborated with numerous internationally renowned museums, galleries, curators, art fairs, celebrities, and global brands.

It is her creative, innovative, and disruptive spirit that has led her to being open to exploring different media and to high-profile collaborations with celebrities like John Legend and Absolute Vodka, becoming the first woman and first African to be invited to participate in the BMW Art Car project in 1991.

Mahlangu is heavily involved in community projects in the Mabhoko village of the Mpumalanga province to teach young community members traditional Ndebele painting and beadwork techniques. In October 2024, Mahlangu unveiled her first public mural in the UK at Serpentine Gallery and her institutional retrospective Then I Knew I Was Good at Painting: Esther Mahlangu, A Retrospective is currently touring museums throughout South Africa.