Celebrating APS at 35 | February–March Highlights
Investec Cape Town Art Fair
APS proudly participated in the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, one of Africa’s leading contemporary art events.
This platform provided an opportunity to showcase APS artists to a wider audience of collectors and curators, while strengthening relationships and expanding networks within the contemporary art landscape.
For our Investec Cape Town Art Fair collection
35 Year Anniversary | Programme Highlights
Alumni Workshops
As part of the lead-up to Artist Proof Studio’s 35th anniversary celebrations, APS welcomed alumni back into the studio throughout February. These workshops created a meaningful space for knowledge exchange, where former students returned to share their skills, experiences, and creative journeys with current learners.
The sessions highlighted the strength of the APS community and the lasting relationships built through the studio. More importantly, they reflected APS’s ongoing commitment to mentorship, collaboration, and intergenerational learning, values that have shaped the institution over three and a half decades.
Project - Students Carving the Lino Portraits
In preparation for the 35th anniversary exhibition at Strauss & Co, APS students engaged in a lino carving project inspired by alumni from the 1990s and early 2000s.
Current students created portrait-based linocuts of alumni artists, which were later exhibited as part of the show. This project not only introduced students to new technical processes but also created a visual link between generations of APS artists.
By interpreting the faces and histories of alumni through printmaking, students actively engaged with the legacy of the studio while contributing to its ongoing story.
The Lino Potraits
Explore artist profiles and stories from the exhibition:
A timed online auction of selected works is currently running until 17 April
The exhibition is currently on view at Strauss & Co, 89 Central Street, Houghton Estate, Johannesburg. It is on view from 9 March - 17 April 2026, with weekday viewing from 9am - 4pm.
9 March - The Launch and Exhibition (APS x Strauss)
On 9 March 2026, Artist Proof Studio marked a significant milestone with the opening of its 35th anniversary exhibition in partnership with Strauss & Co.
The exhibition brings together over 50 APS alumni, each represented through a biographical profile, an early work, a recent print, and a linocut portrait produced by current students. Together, these elements offer a powerful reflection on artistic growth, mentorship, and the lasting impact of the studio.
The opening brought together artists, alumni, patrons, and partners in a moment of reflection and celebration, reinforcing APS’s continued relevance as a space for learning, creativity, and opportunity.
APS at 35 – Panel Discussion
As part of the anniversary programme, APS hosted a panel discussion in partnership with Strauss & Co, reflecting on the studio’s early years and its role in shaping artistic practice and exchange.
The conversation brought together international master printers Birgit Blyth and Judy Quinn, who led workshops at APS in the 1990s, alongside alumni from that period. Together, they reflected on the experimentation, collaboration, and cross-cultural exchange that defined the studio during that time.
The discussion offered valuable insight into the foundations of APS and the ways in which those early engagements continue to influence the studio’s approach today. It also reinforced APS’s position as a space of learning, dialogue, and artistic development.
By investing in skills development, creative entrepreneurship, and visibility, the Absa Commission contributes meaningfully to APS’s mission of nurturing emerging talent and supporting sustainable careers in the arts.
Exhibitions News
Imprints of Presence - The exhibition
On 28 February, Lizamore & Associates Art Gallery proudly hosted Imprints of Presence, a three-man exhibition featuring APS alumni Jason Langa, Khumo Ramaila, and Chevy Noir (Katlego Kgomo). Through printmaking and mixed media, the artists explored how memory, emotion, and history leave their mark on the human experience. Their layered, process-driven works asserted a powerful presence in today’s contemporary art landscape.
Our Students Highlights
Students Walkabouts
APS students enjoyed two inspiring walkabouts at Lizamore & Associates Art Gallery. On 11 March, first- and second-year students engaged directly with exhibiting alumni Jason Langa, Khumo Ramaila, and Chevy Noir (Katlego Kgomo), while on 13 March third- and fourth-year students joined by peers from the University of Pretoria participated in more intimate, small-group discussions with the artists. Both sessions encouraged open dialogue, critical engagement, and meaningful connections between students and alumni who have successfully transitioned into the professional art sphere. The experiences were complemented by a gallery-hopping excursion across Johannesburg’s Keyes Art Mile, BKhz Gallery, and Everard Read, where students encountered works by leading South African artists including Mary Sibande, Blessing Ngobeni, Philemon Hlungwani, Mmakgoba Sebidi, and Nandipha Mntambo. Together, these walkabouts offered students invaluable exposure to Johannesburg’s dynamic contemporary art scene, while reinforcing tangible pathways into the industry.
First-Year Students – Relief Printing
In March, APS first-year students were introduced to the fundamentals of relief printing, gaining hands-on experience in carving, inking, and printing processes.
This stage of their training is essential in building both technical skill and creative confidence. Through this practical work, students begin to understand the discipline and precision required in printmaking, while also exploring their own creative expression.
The project connects students to APS’s long-standing tradition of printmaking excellence and lays the foundation for their development within the programme.
Second-Year Students – Human Figure Studies
During February and March, APS second-year students focused on the conceptualisation of the human figure as part of their ongoing development.
This phase encourages students to move beyond technical representation and engage with ideas of identity, form, and expression. Through experimentation and critical thinking, students begin to develop their own visual language and artistic voice.
The work reflects a shift from technical training to conceptual practice, preparing students for more advanced exploration in their artistic journey.
APS Education Term One students visit to The Jack Ginsberg Centre for Book Arts housed at the Wits Art Museum.
On the 12th of February 2026 the Artist Proof Studio third and fourth year printmaking students visited The Jack Ginsberg Centre for Book Arts at WAM .APS visits the Jack Ginsberg Centre for Book Arts annually, as the collection of Artists books is a valuable educational resource to inspire and educate our students about artists books collected by Jack Ginsberg from all corners of the globe.
Our educational visit to JGCBA coincides with the students Artist Books that they are required to make during term one. Ciara Struwig Special Collections Librarian from JGCBA made a great selection of artists books for our students to see from the collection, ranging from repurposed materials, existing books appropriated by artists, and high-end artists books as well.
Ciara Struwig Special Collections Librarian also gave the students an informed walk about on the current show GAIA, Dialogues between the book arts, natural sciences & plant humanities.
The APS education unit and students would like to thank the JGCBA for an afternoon of inspiration, motivation and guidance on the specialised practice and subject of Artists Books. Jack Ginsberg is a long-standing patron and partner of the Artist Proof Studio. In 2025, he initiated an annual student award to celebrate excellence and innovation in the book arts projects produced by our students.
The Jack Ginsberg Centre for Book Arts Awards & The Ampersand Foundation.
