On Friday, December 6, 2024, the Michaelis School of Fine Art opened its doors to an exciting and heartfelt celebration of artistic achievement: the Graduate Show 2024. This annual event showcases the culmination of the creative and academic journeys of the final-year students, turning the Michaelis Galleries into a vivid mosaic of diverse artistic expressions.

The exhibition, curated by Jade Nair, the Michaelis Galleries Curator, has run until today, December 12, 2024, leaving visitors inspired and reflective.
The opening event was attended by key figures, including Professor Shose Kessi, Dean of Humanities at the University of Cape Town, and Dr. Kurt Campbell, Director of the Michaelis School of Fine Art.

Dr. Campbell celebrated the students’ accomplishments, highlighting the significance of their work as part of the school’s legacy of excellence and innovation in fine art. He noted the profound impact of their creations in addressing critical contemporary issues and contributing to meaningful cultural dialogue.

The Artists and Their Works
This year’s graduating cohort brought forward an impressive range of projects, each deeply personal and universally resonant. The works represent explorations of identity, memory, culture, environment, and resilience. The exhibition featured the following artworks:

1. "I Dream of Rest" by  Chloe Adams
2. "Homage to Her: Unravelled and Reborn" by Emily Rice
3. "Witness: What does the furniture see?" by Annamarie Lategan
4. "The title of this body of work is Untitled" by Jaden Wells
5. "clearing" by Michelle Gait
6. "Water Sports" by Keith Henning
7. "Blue sky Green grass" by Yolanda Li
8. "bodies becoming" by Julia Overmeyer
9. "Queer Matter(s)" by Tal(i) Lehr-Sacks
10. "Canis Familiaris" by Nicola Bailey
11. "Who Am I?" by Hakeem Rasdien
12. "Spectre" by Emma Wootton
13. "Stitching Connections: Cutting threads Again and Again" by Sue Kramer
14. "embodied" by Sarah Wilson
15. "The Shed" by Aaron Philander
16. "DreamGirls" by Neha Misra
17. "Ina Mutanen Jakara" by Aisha Yahaya
18. "Coven" by Arum Glogauer
19. "The Pink Edit" by Elizabeth Retief
20. "Fragile Connections" by Victoria Andrews
21. "I Had a Dream on the Beach and the Rocks Were Burning" by Nina Mostert
22. "Gotcha Nose!" by Zach Stewart
23. "I Buried Myself with You" by Idiatiou Lily Diallo
24. "The Beauty of the Fractured" by Jasirah Sayed
25. "You’ve Got to Be Crazy to Look at Me This Way" by Matt Watt
26. "Portraits" by Sipho Radebe
27. "Spices, Threads, & Memory" by Ni-shaat Bardien
28. "Nothing Human" by Saskia Druyan
29. “Cheese Girl: Conspicuous Consumption Edition” by Rebaone Finger
30. “A Fragmented Ego” by Kiara David
31. “To Every Birth It’s Blood” by Katleho Mosia
32. “Containing Loss” by Eva Pazaitis
33. “A Handful of Dirt, A Foot Full of Devils Thorns" by Amy-Beth Taylor
34. “Love Forever” by Leah (Lux) Mascher

Reflecting on Excellence
Curator Jade Nair skillfully orchestrated this exhibition, ensuring that every work was presented to highlight the individuality and depth of the students' artistic journeys. Professor Shose Kessi and Dr. Kurt Campbell's remarks underscored the pivotal role of the arts in fostering cultural dialogue, resilience, and innovation.

As the exhibition concludes, it leaves a lasting impression of the resilience, ingenuity, and courage embedded in this year’s cohort. The Michaelis Graduate Show 2024 is not just an exhibition—it is a narrative of voices, perspectives, and dreams. It challenges viewers to see the world through fresh eyes and invites them to question, empathize, and celebrate the power of art.

Access the Michaelis Graduate Show 2024 Catalogue here, which provides comprehensive details on all the artists and their works.