Homecoming: A milestone for the Johannesburg Art Gallery

On 20 November 2025, the Standard Bank Art Gallery hosted a special pre-opening of Homecoming, a landmark exhibition celebrating the return of 145 artworks from the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG). After an international tour through Hungary, Italy, and South Korea—where it attracted nearly 500,000 visitors—the collection is back in South Africa at a pivotal moment for Johannesburg’s cultural heritage. The event was officially opened by the Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr. Dada Morero, in the presence of key partners and dignitaries, including the Ambassador of France to South Africa, H.E. David Martinon.

Co-curated by Khwezi Gule (JAG) and Dr. Same Mdluli (Standard Bank Art Gallery), Homecoming brings together an exceptional selection of South African works alongside important European masterpieces, including several highlights from the JAG’s renowned French collection. This moment not only celebrates a rich artistic dialogue but also reinforces the need to protect and reimagine one of the continent’s most significant public art collections. The Embassy of France in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi, and the French Institute of South Africa is proud to support this initiative as part of a broader commitment to the revitalisation of the Johannesburg Art Gallery. This engagement focuses on:

• Digitisation and public access: contributing to the development of digital tools and platforms that will allow wider access to the collection.
• Capacity building: strengthening skills in conservation and digitalization practice for students.
• Cooperation with French museums: mobilising expertise from French institutions to support evaluation and long-term planning.
• Cultural revitalisation: participating in an ambitious effort to reaffirm the role of the JAG within Johannesburg’s cultural landscape and support its reintegration into the life of the city.

The exhibition will open to the public in early 2026 and will be accompanied by an extensive educational and community-engagement programme. This collaborative project brings together the City of Johannesburg, the Standard Bank Art Gallery, the Johannesburg Development Agency, IFAS, Friends of JAG, and the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation.