William Humphreys Art Gallery (WHAG) is pleased to present Valued Materials – A Work In Progress, a solo exhibition by the 2026 WHAG Artist-in-Residence, Tshepo Bopape. Opening on 5 March 2026, the exhibition marks the culmination of Bopape’s residency at the gallery and reflects an intensive period of research and studio production undertaken in Kimberley.

Born in Soweto in 1993 and raised in Lenasia South, Bopape is a multidisciplinary artist currently living and working in Johannesburg. His practice, rooted in painting and photography, is shaped by his training at the Market Photo Workshop (Foundation Course, 2014) and a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art from the University of the Witwatersrand. Having lived, studied, and worked in Johannesburg for most of his life, Bopape brings to Kimberley a critical engagement with South Africa’s industrial, spatial, and socio-economic histories.

Developed during his residency at WHAG, Valued Materials – A Work In Progress examines minerals such as diamond and gold, materials that transformed South Africa’s economic and political landscape during the 19th-century industrial revolution. Working primarily in acrylic on canvas through an abstract and afro-cubic visual language, Bopape interrogates systems of extraction, labour, capital, and value. His paintings reflect on the enduring legacy of mining in shaping spatial divisions, wealth distribution, and national identity.

Kimberley, as the historic epicentre of diamond mining, provides a particularly charged context for this inquiry. The exhibition positions the city not merely as backdrop but as an active archive,  a landscape where material wealth and human cost remain deeply intertwined. Bopape’s abstraction resists literal representation, inviting audiences to reconsider how value is constructed, who benefits from it, and what histories remain embedded in the land.

“Valued Materials is an exhibition that explores our belief in precious natural stones and the social, political, economic, and interpersonal consequences of that belief. It looks particularly at diamonds and gold as precious materials and how the desire for them has shaped and helped build not only the cities of Kimberley and Johannesburg, but the entire country of South Africa. This exhibition invites a moment to reflect and re-evaluate the value we have placed on these materials, their consequences on our history, and how they continue to shape our present-day experiences.” — Tshepo Bopape

As part of WHAG’s ongoing commitment to supporting contemporary artistic research and critical engagement with South African histories, the Artist-in-Residence programme provides a platform for experimentation, dialogue, and community interaction. Bopape’s residency included studio development, research engagement, and public interaction, reinforcing the gallery’s role as both exhibition space and site of knowledge production.

“As an entity of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, we are intentional about developing our national visual arts landscape and nurturing emerging artists to advance their careers and position their work within global conversations. Since the revival of WHAG’s Artist-in-Residence programme in 2023, in honour of our late patron and permanent Artist-in-Residence, Dumisani Mabaso, we have witnessed an exceptional cohort of artists who have enriched and strengthened this platform. This year’s recipient was selected from a group of top finalists, following a rigorous and highly competitive adjudication process.” — Chief Curator, William Humphreys Art Gallery

The opening reception will take place on Thursday, 5 March 2026 at 17h30 for 18h00, with Dr. Refiloe Lepere as the opening speaker. Members of the public, artists, students, and cultural practitioners are warmly invited to attend.

 

Valued Materials – A Work In Progress

A Solo Exhibition by Tshepo Bopape
Curated by Chepape Makgato

William Humphreys Art Gallery
5 March – 30 April 2026

Opening Reception: 5 March 2026 | 17h30 for 18h00
Opening Speaker: Dr. Refiloe Lepere

The exhibition runs until 30 April 2026.

Please RSVP to secure your spot for the opening reception on zaakirah@whag.co.za

Media Enquiries

William Humphreys Art Gallery
2 Cullinan Crescent, Civic Centre, Kimberley
Tel: 053 8311724/5
Email: chepape@whag.co.za or malikah@whag.co.za
Website: www.whag.za
Social Media: @William Humphreys Art Gallery [Instagram] and William Humphreys Art Gallery [Facebook]