About APS

Vision and Mission 

At Artist Proof Studio, we cultivate talented individuals with shared values, grounded in Ubuntu, to achieve artistic excellence. Through our education and outreach programmes, we aim to build capacity, promote self-actualisation, and make a lasting impact in the communities we serve. Our vision is of a society where passionate individuals thrive creatively and economically, empowered through printmaking.

Core values: I SEE U

Innovation: Embracing change and creativity as a foundation for growth.
Self-awareness: Encouraging personal growth and diversity among staff, students, and artists.
Engagement: We foster engagement among our students, professional artists, staff, and the wider community, bridging our studio work with the wider community.
Excellence: Promoting "excellence through possibility" by pushing the boundaries of printmaking.
Ubuntu: Fostering a safe and respectful environment through empathy and mutual care.

Background 

Education, Empowerment, and Impact

APS provides quality arts education to talented students who would otherwise not have access to tertiary education due to economic or educational inequality. Our education programme has graduated over 500 young artists in the past three decades. Many have gone on to support themselves and their families and to contribute meaningfully to the South African and global creative economies.

We are proud to have established ourselves as both a local and international centre of printmaking excellence. Our alumni include internationally recognised artists such as Phillemon Hlungwani  Bambo Sibiya, Mongezi Ncaphayi, Lebohang Motaung, Mbali Tshabalala, Lindo Zwane, and many others. Our professional studio, Pro-Shop, enables collaboration with emerging and established artists to produce exceptional print editions.

Through our gallery and marketing initiatives, Artist Proof Studio showcases the work of our artists across digital platforms, art fairs, partner exhibitions, and alternative spaces. These collaborations and engagement-driven activations allow us to connect with wider audiences and promote South African printmaking on the world stage, while continuing to shape its future and expand the reach of our creative economy.

Looking Ahead: 35 Years of Printmaking Excellence

As we approach 2026, Artist Proof Studio celebrates 35 years of shaping South Africa’s visual arts landscape through printmaking, education, and community empowerment.
This milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to nurturing artists from all backgrounds, fostering innovation, and building a more inclusive creative economy. We remain dedicated to expanding access to arts education and securing a permanent space that continues to serve future generations of printmakers. You can support this legacy in three meaningful ways: