South African artist Dimakatso Mathopa presents new work in Paris

Arts and Creative Industries

From 20 to 26 March 2026, South African artist Dimakatso Mathopa presents an exhibition of photographs at Forma gallery in Paris as part of the Elaine Harris Grant programme. Curated by Laura Serani, the exhibition brings together a selection of Mathopa’s recent work, continuing her exploration of identity, representation and visual storytelling through photography.

The French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) supported Mathopa’s residency at the Cité internationale des arts in Paris earlier in 2026. The residency offered time for research and artistic development while connecting the artist with curators and cultural institutions in the French capital.

The exhibition is part of the Elaine Harris Grant, an initiative established to honour Elaine Harris and to support artists from minority backgrounds, particularly within the Black diaspora. Mathopa was selected as the first recipient of the grant by an international jury of artists, curators and cultural professionals.

Mathopa’s work draws on portraiture, performance and symbolic imagery to reflect on heritage, femininity and the ways in which personal and collective histories are represented. Her presentation in Paris offers an opportunity to share this work with new audiences while strengthening artistic connections between South Africa and France.

Pictures: Courtesy of artist and Afronova Gallery

You might also like

A librarian’s critical review of K. Sello Duiker’s The Quiet Violence of Dreams

K. Sello Duiker’s The Quiet Violence of Dreams occupies a significant literary role in the broad context of post-apartheid...

Enter the 2025 Francophonie competition and stand a chance to win a trip to France

The French Embassy in South Africa, Lesotho, and Malawi invites young people aged 14 to 25, who reside in...

Spotlight on 3 French personalities who strove for Liberation in South Africa

When Ms Catherine Colonna, French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs visited Freedom Park in Pretoria, South Africa, in...

Le Bridge demonstrates how collaboration in AI can drive innovation 🤖

On Wednesday 24th January 2024, the French South African Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FSACCI), in collaboration with the...

Let's get social

This message is only visible to admins.
Problem displaying Facebook posts.
Click to show error
Error: Server configuration issue
Twitter feed is not available at the moment.