Professor Fritha Langerman

Professor of Printmedia & Head of Department

FRITHA LANGERMAN is a Professor of the Michaelis School of Fine Art. Langerman trained at the University of Cape Town (BAFA, MFA) and completed her PhD in 2013. The major focus of her research work has been in the areas of printmaking and curation, with particular emphasis on the representation of the biomedical body, history of science display and the visual analogies of biological science. She is an interdisciplinary artist specialising in the reimaging of display within natural history museums and her work operates at the interface between art, scholarly research, and curatorship. Her research output has been in the form of material objects and exhibitions, while publications have served to explicate and extend issues these raise. Her visual research has located itself within the languages of museum display and the politics of visual taxonomies and her PhD suggested ways in which display in natural history museums can be transformed in post-colonial times. Her research has been recognised by many long duration exhibitions held at the Iziko South African Museum, and the award of several university and public installations. She was the recipient of first UCT Creative Works Award in 2010, the UCT Junior Fellows Award in 2008 and the Cape Town Public Sculpture winner in 2004. Her exhibition, FREIGHTED: 500 years of rhinoceros collection and display, has travelled to eight significant European museums.  Her teaching and supervision works in the space between traditional technologies and contemporary methodologies and introduces students to transdisciplinary practice.  Her work has been exhibited and published nationally and internationally in over 17 countries and recognised through scholarly citations, awards, and numerous media articles.

Solo Exhibitions

  • 2026 Penggulung. Forthcoming
  • 2023 SCATTER. University of Stellenbosch Gallery.
  • 2018 FREIGHTED: 500 years of rhinoceros collection and display. Iziko South African Museum. Cape Town.
  • 2012-13 R-A-T: an associative ordering. Iziko South African Museum. Cape Town.
  • 2009-10 Subtle Thresholds: the representational taxonomies of disease. Iziko South African Museum. Cape Town.
  • 2008 Of Symmetries and Oxymorons. Artspace Gallery, Jhb
  • 2007 The Knowledge Chambers. Bell-Roberts Gallery.
  • 2003 Learning to speak. Klein Karoo Kunsfees
  • 2002 Black Boxes. AVA, Cape Town, NSA, Durban
  • 2001 Watch. US Gallery, Stellenbosch
  • 1998 CODE. AVA, Cape Town
  • 1996 The Dissection, Castle Cape Town

Curated Exhibitions

  • 2025 Michaelis 100: 100 years, 100 objects. Michaelis Galleries, Cape Town. 5 September – 8 October.
  • 2024 Vital Signs. (with Svea Josephy). Michaelis Galleries, Cape Town.  September - October.
  • 2015 Rhinos are coming. Michaelis Galleries, Cape Town.  28 April - 16 May
  • 2004. Curiosity CLXXV. Curating collections at the University of Cape Town. with Pippa Skotnes and Gwen van Embden.
  • 2003 Lexicons and Labyrinths: the iconography of the genome. South African Museum.
  • 2002 53 Degrees collaboration with Magnet Theatre Group. National Arts Festival. Grahamstown.
  • 1998 Charting the Earth: Early lithographs of natural history, South African Museum.

Public and University Commissions

  • 2022 Scala Cerebri. Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town.
  • 2017 New Interpretive Centre, West Coast Fossil Park. Permanent installation.
  • 2011 Babylonstoren Wine Estate, Klapmuts. Permanent Installation.
  • 2011 Chemistry Department, P D Hahn Building. University of Cape Town. Permanent Installation.
  • 2011 Public Health Department, Falmouth Building. University of Cape Town. Permanent Installation.
  • 2011 Pathology Museum. University of Cape Town. Permanent Installation.
  • 2008 Pharmacology Department. University of Cape Town. Permanent Installation.
  • 2004 Come to Pass. Public sculpture installation. St Georges Mall, Cape Town. (with Katherine Bull)

Group Exhibitions

International

  • 2024  Fifth International Academic Printmaking Alliance (IAPA) Exhibition, Xi’an Art Museum, China.
  • 2022  Linocut Today. Städtische Galerie. Bietigheim-Bissingen. Germany.
  • 2022  Fourth International Academic Printmaking Alliance (IAPA) exhibition, Kunming Museum, Yunnan, China
  • 2020  Third International Academic Printmaking Alliance (IAPA) exhibition, Beijing.
  • 2014  Rhinos are coming. Curated by Jose Quaresma.  4 November 2014 – 20 January 2015. Sala de exposicoes do Centro Cultural CEEE, Erico Verissimo, Brazil;  Galeria Kobro, Strzemiński Academyof Fine Arts,  Lodź, Poland; Torre de Belem and Galeria da FBAUL, Goethe Institut, Lisboa, Portugal.
  • 2014 Sie haben die Wahl! Die Lieblingswerke unserer Besucher. Städtische Galerie. Bietigheim-Bissingen. Germany.
  • 2014 10x12@SA - Imago Mundi: The art of humanity. Rome, Museo Carlo Bilotti ‒ Aranciera di Villa Borghese.20 November, 2014 - 11 January, 2015
  • 2010 Linocut Today. Städtische Galerie. Bietigheim-Bissingen. Germany.
  • 2010 2nd Penang International Print Exhibition. Penang State Museum, Malaysia.
  • 2007 Linocut Today. Städtische Galerie, Bietigheim-Bissingen, Germany.
  • 2007 Not so Black and White, KyleKauffman Gallery, New York
  • 2006 INKLANDIA: an international print exhibition, Rueff Galleries, Purdue University. USA.
  • 2004 A Decade of Democracy: witnessing South Africa, Boston, Washington
  • 2004 Identity, April, Fortis Circus theatre, Schenvingen, Netherlands
  • 2002 CON/TEXT , June, Axis Gallery, New York
  • 2002 I.D./OLOGY September, Axis Gallery, New York
  • 2001 Address – Redress. Print exhibition, Cultureel centre, Ieper, Belgium
  • 2000 International Print Exhibition, Macau Museum of Art
  • 1999 Project Conflux, Luxembourg, Dijon

National

  • 2024 Vital Signs. Michaelis Gallery. Curated by Fritha Langerman and Svea Josephy.
  • 2023 Zoo//Animalia. Glen Carlou Gallery. Curated by Christa Swart.
  • 2023 Re/Connect/Ing. MTN & University of Johannesburg. MTN Innovation Centre. Curated by Katlego Lefine.
  • 2023 Pedagogy, Praxis, Pandemic. Michaelis Gallery. Curated by Kurt Campbell and Jean Brundrit.
  • 2022 Diagnosing Loss. Michaelis Gallery. Curated by Nina Liebenberg.
  • 2017 Shifting Conversations. University of Johannesburg Gallery. Curated by Johan Myburg and Melissa Goba.
  • 2017 Nano 1.1. Barnard Gallery, Cape Town. Curated by Alastair Whitton.
  • 2015 Slow Violence. GUS Gallery, Stellenbosch. Curated by Hentie van der Merwe.
  • 2013 Suspicious Mind. Michaelis Galleries and ISANG Annex, Cape Town, 2014
  • 2012 The A-R-T Show. NSA Gallery, Durban, Michaelis Gallery, Cape Town, Museum Africa, Jhb, Smithsonian, Washington. Context. Michaelis Gallery, Cape Town.
  • 2012 Resample. ABSA Gallery, Jhb.
  • 2011 A Natural Selection: 1991-2011. AVA. Cape Town
  • 2010 Artworks in Progress. Michaelis Gallery, UCT. Cape Town
  • 2009 Homage. Michaelis Gallery, UCT. Cape Town , Goodman Gallery, Jhb.
  • 2009 Social Pattern. AVA. Cape Town
  • 2009 Paradise. South African Print Gallery. Cape Town.
  • 2009 In Black and White. Bell-Roberts Gallery. Cape Town.
  • 2008 Print 08. Bell-Roberts Gallery. Cape Town.
  • 2008 Artworks in Progress. Michaelis Gallery. Cape Town.
  • 2007 Ball Sports. AVA, Cape Town
  • 2007 Print 07, Bell-Roberts Gallery, Loerensford, Somerset West
  • 2007 Absa Exhibition of previous merit award winners of the ABSA Atelier, KKNK.
  • 2005 A Decade of Democracy: witnessing South Africa, NSA Durban
  • 2005 Printtt. AVA, Cape Town.
  • 2005 ABSA Atelier, ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg (top 10 finalists)
  • 2004 Working Proof. Art on Paper, Johannesburg.
  • 2004 North South Pulse. Sasol Museum, Stellenbosch.
  • 2004 Decade of Democracy. South African National Gallery, Cape Town, Feb – Sept.
  • 2003 Lexicons and Labyriths: the iconography of the genome. South African Museum.
  • 2001 Variable Contrasts. Michaelis staff photographic exhibition. MOP. Michaelis Gallery.
  • 2002 53 Degrees collaboration with Magnet Theatre Group, National Arts Festival, Grahamstown.
  • 3rd Cape Town Sculpture Competition, AVA, Cape Town
  • Sasol Wax Competition, WAM Festival, Jhb
  • 2001 Reconstitution. Standard Bank National Arts’ Festival, Grahamstown
  • 2000 Address – Redress. Print exhibition, Oliewenhuis Museum, Pretoria
  • 1999 Bloedlyn, Klein Karoo Festival.,AVA, Cape Town
  • 1999 ABSA Atelier, Bellville, Pretoria Committee Selection, AVA, Cape Town
  • 1999 Kempton Park Competition, Johannesburg.
  • 1999 Postcards from South Africa, Axis Gallery, N-Y.
  • 1999 Anima(l), Bellville Association of Art.
  • 1999 Project Conflux, Cape Town, Pretoria.

Awards

  • 2010 UCT Creative Works Award
  • 2007 UCT Junior Fellow’s Award
  • 2005 ABSA Atelier Final 10 finalists
  • 2003 Sasol Wax Competition merit award
  • 2002 Cape Town Public Sculpture competition
  • 2002 3rd Cape Town Public Sculpture Competition
  • 1999 ABSA Atelier Merit Award
     

Publications

Books and Edited Volumes:

  • Langerman, F. 2025. FREIGHTED: a paper cabinet. Cape Town: Michaelis Galleries. ISBN: 978-1-0370-6510-1
  • Langerman, F. 2013. The exploded book: a disarticulation of visual knowledge systems within sites of natural history display. PhD thesis.  University of Cape Town.
  • Langerman, F. 2010. (editor) Artworks in Progress, Vol 10. Journal of the staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, U.C.T. 120pp. Cape Town: Michaelis School of Fine Art. ISBN 978-0-620-48450-3.
  • Langerman, F. 2008. (editor) Artworks in Progress, Vol 9. Journal of the staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, U.C.T. 94pp. Cape Town: Michaelis School of Fine Art. ISBN 978-0-620-42166-9.
  • Langerman, F. 2006. (editor) Artworks in Progress, Vol 8. Journal of the staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, U.C.T. 80pp. Cape Town: Michaelis School of Fine Art. ISBN 978-0-620-37407-1.

Catalogues and Artists’ books:

  • Langerman, F. 2010. Subtle Thresholds: the representational taxonomies of disease. Cape Town: Centre for Curating the Archive. Michaelis School of Fine Art.80pp. ISBN: 978-0-620-47220-3
  • Langerman, F. 2008. Of Symmetries and Oxymorons: The Knowledge Chambers 2008. Contributing essay by A Tietze. Cape Town: Michaelis School of Fine Art.34pp. ISBN: 978-0-620-4083.
  • Skotnes P; Van Embden G; Langerman F. Curiosity CLXXV: A paper cabinet. Cape Town: LLAREC Series in Visual History. ISBN 0-620-33345-6.
  • Langerman, F (ed). 2003. Lexicons and Labyrinths: iconography of the genome. Cape Town: HSRC Publishers.42pp. ISBN 0-796-92022-2.
  • Langerman, F. 2000. Objects for: a transcultural lexicon. UCT. (artists’ book)
  • Langerman, F, Skotnes, P & Sauls, R. 1996. On the Surface: the art and technique of relief printmaking. Katrine Harries Print Cabinet: Cape Town.(artists’ book)
  • Langerman, F. 1995. Images from the Dissection: a collection of original etchings and screenprints. U.C.T. (artists’ book)

Chapters and Articles:

  • Langerman, F and Skotnes, P. 2025. Good neighbours: crossing the boundary. In Iziko South African Museum 200: reflections on 200 years. Ndhlovu, B. (ed). SUN Press: Stellenbosch. p95-114. ISBN 978-0-6398893-2-0 ISBN 978-0-6398893-3-7(eBook) https://doi.org/10.52779/9780639889337
  • Langerman, F. 2022. Creative Curatorial Practice as a Means of Reorientating Display Tropes in Museums of Natural History. P107-115. In 2nd Arts Research Africa Conference, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 14-16 September 2022.   https://wiredspace.wits.ac.za/bitstreams/84a0f26c-9f01-4583-9c2b-014777ff1686/download
  • Schwartz, A., Levine, S., Rother, A.H., Langerman, F. Toxic layering through three disciplinary lenses: Childhood poisoning and street pesticide use in Cape Town, South Africa. Medical Humanities  Published Online First: 20 October 2018. doi: 10.1136/medhum-2018-011488
  • Langerman, F. 2015. Dürer’s Rhino: Five centuries of an elusive representation. P 459-464. In  Impact 9 International Printmaking Conference. China Academy of Art Press: Hangzhou.  ISBN: 978-7-5503-0957-9. 555pp
  • Langerman, F. 2015. The Contribution of the Book to the Reproduction of Linear, Hierarchical Models of Natural History. p 144-149. In Harrison, P L; Shemilt,E & Watson, A (Eds). Impact 8 International Printmaking Conference: Borders & Crossings: the artist as explorer. Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design, University of Dundee. ISBN: 1 899837 70 1.376pp
  • Langerman, F. 2015. The exploded book – creative research practice in natural history museums. In Research in Arts: The oscillation of methods in the domains of creation. Quaresma, J and Dias, R (Eds). Cieba-Fbaul Publishers: Lisbon p 13-32. ISBN 978-989-8553-37-9.
  • Langerman, F. 2015. Opening Address.  In The thinking eye: photographs by Neville Dubow. Martin, M and Weinberg, P. eds. 32-34. Cape Town: Irma Stern Museum..ISBN 978-0-7992-25-23-5. 114pp
  • Langerman, F. 2014. Surface < depth < marking: rhinoceros as matrix. In Rhinos are coming.  Jose Quaresma (Ed). Centro de Investigação e de Estudos em Belas-Artes, Faculdade de Belas-Artes, Universidade de Lisboa. p53-59. ISBN:978-989-8771-04-9. 186 pp
  • Langerman, F. 2014.  In S. Inggs (ed), Object Relations: Essays and Images, pp.. Cape Town: Michaelis School of Fine Art. ISBN 9780620635004
  • Langerman, F. 2014. Cover to cover: the contribution of the book to the reproduction of linear, hierarchical models of natural history.for the ARC publication, Uncertain Curature. Carolyn Hamilton and Pippa Skotnes (eds) (in press)
  • Langerman, F. 2014. Of Wood and Trees: Locating Eden and Noah’s Ark within Displays of Natural History In Elkins, J. (Ed) ARTISTS with PhDs: On the New Doctoral Degree in Studio Art, Second Edition. New Academia Publishing. p363-383. ISBN 978-0-9915047-5-6
  • Langerman, F. 2012. Trees, webs and explosions: the analogical imperative the politics of knowledge. In Levine, S (ed). Medicine and the politics of knowledge. HSRC: Cape Town. p173-185. ISBN: 9780796923929.
  • Langerman, F. 2009. Defining Order: Print, Representational Taxonomies and Encyclopaedic Knowledge Systems. In Hoskins, S, 2011. IMPACT 6 Multidisciplinary Printmaking Conference Proceedings. University of West England, Bristol. p16-20. ISBN 978-1-906501-03-7
  • Langerman, F. 2010. Walking-wounded. Artworks in Progress, Vol 10. Journal of the staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, U.C.T. 33-39. Cape Town: Michaelis School of Fine Art. ISBN 978-0-620-48450-3.
  • Langerman, F. 2008. A confluence of visual systems: earth, art and mapping. Quest Magazine’s Earth edition. (vol 4:2). Academy of Science of South Africa: Johannesburg. p 54-55. ISSN 1729-830x
  • Langerman, F. 2008. Colophon. Artworks in Progress Vol 9. Journal of the staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, U.C.T. 8-11. Cape Town: Michaelis School of Fine Art. ISBN 978-0-620-42166-9.
  • Langerman, F. 2006. Reading difference/seeing pattern: evaluating the visual representation of the genome, Artworks in Progress Vol 8. Journal of the staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, U.C.T. 30-34. ISBN 978-0-620-37407-1.
  • Langerman, S. 2005. Spatial-temporality and the Conference.IMPACT 2003 – IMPACT/KONTAKT 2005. p108 Grapheion 2005: European Review of Modern Prints, Books and paper Art. ISSN 1211-6904
  • Langerman, F. 2003. Come to Pass: a work of erasure and inscription, Artworks in Progress Vol 7. Journal of the staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, U.C.T. 38-43. ISSN 1729-7923
  • Langerman, F. 2001. Containing excess. Creating a lexicon for the management of objects and images, Artworks in Progress, yearbook of the staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, U.C.T., p76-79. ISBN 0-7992-2066-3.
  • Langerman, F. 1999. The state of the print: 1999. in Campbell, Jean. A Directory of Southern African Contemporary Arts Practices, Contemporary Arts Publishers.
  • Langerman, F. 1998. Sutures and Wounds in a Paper Armoury, Artworks in Progress, yearbook of the staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, U.C.T., p38-41. ISBN 0-7992-1911-8..
  • Inggs, S., Geustyn, E. (eds.) What’s Bred in the Stone. Katrine Harries Print Cabinet: Cape Town, 1998. (artists’ book)

Collections

  • ABSA Collection
  • University of Cape Town
  • Durban Art Gallery
  • Katrine Harries Print collection, UCT.
  • South African National Gallery
  • Yale Art of the Book Collection
  • US Library of Congress, Washington
  • Stellenbosch University, Sasol Museum
  • MTN Print Collection
  • Sasol Collection
  • Sasol Wax Collection
  • Purdue University, Indiana
  • Standard Bank Corporate Collection
  • Department of Science and Technology
  • Telkom Collection