September is bringing a new energy to the art world and Artist Proof Studio is right in the middle of it.
There is something about the start of a new art season. Galleries are opening their doors, artists are presenting new work, audiences are discovering familiar names in new ways, and collectors are looking for the next piece to take home.
For Artist Proof Studio, this September carries an added significance. As we celebrate 35 years of APS, the studio continues to move between exhibitions, artists, education and printmaking connecting people with original works while creating opportunities for artists to grow.
Following our presentation at FNB Art Joburg, the season has continued across Johannesburg and beyond, bringing together established artists, emerging voices, new audiences and the work happening inside the studio.
From the archive to what comes next
At FNB Art Joburg, APS marked its 35-year journey with a presentation bringing together archival works, new editions and large-scale prints. The selection reflected both the history of the studio and its continued evolution, with archival works carrying the memory of where APS began, while new editions and ambitious prints highlighted the ways artists and the studio continue to grow.
Beyond the works themselves, the presentation became a space for conversation and connection. Visitors had the opportunity to stop, look closely and engage with the artists and their work, a reminder that printmaking is not only about the finished artwork, but also about the people, stories and exchanges that surround it.
Taking printmaking beyond the studio
The season continued in Parkview, where APS returned for its third year at the Jan Celliers Art Exhibition. Over several days, visitors had the opportunity to experience the work in an open and accessible setting, with conversations developing around the prints and new audiences encountering the depth and thought behind each piece.
From a busy art fair to a community exhibition, the setting may change but the opportunity remains the same: to bring artists and audiences closer together. And the season keeps moving.
A new space for discovering art
At The Art Quarter, APS supported the launch of a new cultural space in Sandton with a pop-up exhibition. The preview offered a different way of experiencing art, one where visitors could discover, engage with and collect original works in a more open setting.
The exhibition continues through the festive season, creating further opportunities for audiences to encounter the artists and their work. For a studio that has spent 35 years working within the world of printmaking, these new spaces are part of an ongoing journey: finding new ways for original art to reach new audiences.
But the finished print is only part of the story
One of the most exciting parts of this season is the opportunity to look beyond the finished artwork. At Momentum Aardklop, APS is opening up the printmaking process itself, inviting visitors to see how a work comes together through process, collaboration and ideas.
There is something different about seeing the making of a print rather than simply seeing the final image. The ink, the plate, the press and the hands at work are all part of the story. Printmaking is not simply about the finished piece, it is about the decisions, experimentation and collaboration that happen along the way.
Discover more on the Aardklop website
The artists keep the story moving
Lloyd Maluleke prepares for Atlanta, back at APS
At the heart of every APS season are the artists. Back in the APS print room, Lloyd Maluleke is working on new pieces as he prepares for an international art fair in Atlanta. His return to the studio is a reminder that while an artist's work may travel across cities and countries, the studio remains an important part of that journey.
Lebohang Motaung Exhibited at “I Celebrate Me” at Liza More Gallery
We are also celebrating the work of Lebohang Motaung, who recently exhibited in I Celebrate Me, an all-women’s exhibition at Liza More Gallery. For APS, seeing an alumna exhibiting in spaces like this is another reminder of the life of the studio beyond its walls, how artists continue to carry their experiences forward and connect with new audiences.
And the next generation is already preparing
While exhibitions and events are taking place across the city, the work inside the studio continues. APS’s 3rd- and 4th-year students are currently preparing for their November shows, building towards their own moment in the spotlight.
It is a focused period of development, with new work taking shape and emerging voices preparing to share what they have been working towards. These upcoming shows offer audiences a first look at artists before graduation and a glimpse of what the next generation of creative voices might bring.
The Work Behind the Impact: A Conversation with Nathi Simelane
What does it take to build an arts organisation that continues to create impact and remain relevant over time?
In the ACT NPO Bootcamp Vodcast, Artist Proof Studio (APS) Chief Operating Officer Nathi Simelane reflects on this question, sharing insights into APS’s journey, the importance of arts education and the role of printmaking in creating opportunities and social impact. In conversation with host Nobantu Mqulawana, Nathi also speaks to the realities of leading and sustaining a non-profit organisation, offering a closer look at the thinking and values that continue to shape APS. Filmed at MTN’s production studios and produced in partnership with Tanaka Pictures, the conversation provides an opportunity to hear directly from APS leadership and explore how art, education and community can come together to create lasting impact.
Stay Connected to the Studio
As the season continues, so does the work in the Studio. Beyond the exhibitions, APS remains a space where artists come together to create, collaborate, and grow. Stay connected with us as new projects and stories unfold. Follow our journey, explore more of our work online, or reach out to learn more about the artists behind the prints.
THE SEASON CONTINUES
From the Studio to exhibitions, art fairs and new spaces, September and October offer many ways to encounter Artist Proof Studio and the artists within our community.
We look forward to seeing you along the way.