William Kentridge: In Praise of Shadows June 25–September 10, 2023
William Kentridge, Drawing for “Il Sole 24 Ore (World Walking),” 2007, charcoal, colored pencil, gouache, and pastel on paper, the Doris and Donald Fisher Collection at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. © William Kentridge
William Kentridge, Promised Land, 2008, hand-woven mohair tapestry, woven by Stephens Tapestry Studio, Johannesburg, South Africa, courtesy of the artist. © William Kentridge
William Kentridge, Stereoscope, 1999, 35mm film, transferred to video, The Broad Art Foundation, Los Angeles. © William Kentridge
William Kentridge, Art in a State of Grace, Art in a State of Hope, Art in a State of Siege, 1988, silkscreen on velin d’arches cream and brown paper, printed by Malcolm Christian, Caversham Press, Lidgetton, South Africa, edition of 13, courtesy of the artist. © William Kentridge
William Kentridge, Drawing for “Other Faces,” 2011, charcoal and colored pencil on paper, The Broad Art Foundation, Los Angeles. © William Kentridge
William Kentridge in his studio, Johannesburg, 2016, courtesy of Kentridge Studio. Photograph: Stella Olivier
Included with general admission
“Thought-provoking, challenging, witty, and visually inspiring” —Chron
The acclaimed exhibition William Kentridge: In Praise of Shadows surveys 35 years in the career of celebrated South African artist William Kentridge. More than 80 works touch on every aspect of his wide-ranging investigations in the visual arts, sculpture, film, and theater.
Born in Johannesburg in 1955, Kentridge continues to live and work there today. He has dedicated much of his career to exploring the social and political conditions of his home country, from the Apartheid era (1948–91), through South Africa’s transition to desegregation and democratic elections (1991–94), to its present-day realities.
Featuring his world-renowned charcoal drawings and animated films, as well as prints, bronzes, tapestries, and theater models, William Kentridge: In Praise of Shadows uses the paradoxes of light and shadow to directly engage with the aftermath of colonialism, the recording and memory of historical narratives, and how the artist’s studio can disrupt the certainties of long-held belief systems.
Kentridge’s voice has been essential in bringing forward the struggles of South Africa to address universal issues of history, power, and society.
► Publication
The illustrated exhibition catalogue is available through the MFA Shop (713.639.7360) and the Museum’s Hirsch Library (713.639.7325).
► Group Visits
Visiting with a group of 10 or more? For information, see Group Visits and Tours. Group reservations not available for opening and closing weeks.
► “Studio Johannesburg” William Kentridge in Conversation
William Kentridge: In Praise of Shadows / June 25–September 10, 2023
“William Kentridge: In Praise of Shadows” is organized by The Broad, Los Angeles.
In Houston, major support is provided by:
Bobbie Nau
Additional generous support is provided by:
John R. Eckel, Jr. Foundation
Bettie Cartwright
JBD Foundation
Beverly and Howard Robinson
Leslie and Russ Robinson