Current Exhibitions

Behind the scenes
27 May 2024 TO 25 January 2025

This exhibition, "Behind the Scenes" presents what happens behind the scenes at the Art Museum in the acquisition, documentation and conservation departments.

All the Artworks on display in this exhibition are from the Art Museum’s permanent collection.

Who's who & what's new
30 November 2024 TO 22 February 2025

Artists residing in the Nelson Mandela Bay area were invited to submit an artwork for an exhibition at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum.

The "Who’s Who and What’s New?" is a group exhibition run by the Art Museum and designed to celebrate and promote the diversity of art produced in Nelson Mandela Bay. It aims to encourage new and upcoming artists and to publicise practicing visual artists and visual art groups. The exhibition has no theme and artists old and young, professional or first timers were invited to submit their latest and greatest works.

An exhibition opening event was held on the 30 November 2024. The NPO, the Friends of the Art Museum sponsored the coffee, tea and juice.

The exhibition will be on show until February 2025 and the artworks are for sale.

In addition there are two works titled, "Take a seat” and "Gqeberha Unsettled” that has been included in the exhibition. Take a seat is an embroidered installation by Angie Weiswange. The TAPE (Textile Art PE) group topographical work titled, "Gqeberha Unsettled”, is also on display; this artwork was inspired by the Baakens valley and Brian Walter’s poetry.

Artists on display include:

Andisiwe Kotelo, Andrew Barber, Asandise Methula, Ayanda Mji, Beverley De Lange, Bretten-Anne Moolman, Carla Slabbert, Charles Wildervanck, Charne Mungur, Coutney Dahler, Dani Swigelaar, Debra De Beer, Edgar Pretorius, Erin Smith, Esmé Goosen, Gillian Bowman, Graham Jones, Hannah Rorke, Hennie Odendaal, Hlumelo January, Irma Jordaan, Jane Mears, Jesse Maré, Judy Chesling, Kathy Botha, Khaya Gqomo, Khaya Ngcanga, Leana Maré, Lez Dor, Llise Dodd, Louise Lüders, Luthando Manga, Luxolo Ngese, Madoda Honi, Marilyn Wood, Mark Dodd, Monique Wiffen Rorke, Mpilo Blouw, Mxolisi Sapeta, Madayizana Mzwakhekhile Mzwandile Mlilo, Ntwakumba Nceba, Paul Bokvel Smit, Penelope Rita Smith, Phumla Citeko, Rawana Phumlile, Renate Hartman, Rosemary Forster-Towne, Sarah Stroud, Simon Denis Venter, Sinethemba Xola, Malunga Siphosethu, Jack Siyamthanda Hlonela, Sonya Bruce, Thandile Woji, Theo Zonke, Vuyo Ngwekazi, Wandile Cele and Willemien Green.

Background information for submission:

Each artist submitted one artwork that had to be their ORIGINAL WORK. The call-out was open to all artists 18 years or older as of 1 January 2024 and only works executed in the last 24 months was accepted. The artwork had to be delivered to the Art Museum on or before the 14th November 2024.

click here to view the entry form

Unsettled
07 September 2024 TO 25 January 2025

The Nelson Mandela University Visual Arts Department hosted the South African Visual Art Historians annual conference in September.

The theme for the conference is UNSETTLED: Re Collective Memories and Histories of South Africa. The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum has selected works reflecting on this theme.

The works on exhibition are divided into three sections, i. reflections about the city of Nelson Mandela Bay, ii. reflections on landscapes and settler/colonial identity, and iii. reflections on displacement and migrant labor.

All the Artworks on display are from the Art Museum’s permanent collection.

Lithuba Lakho exhibition call-out
12 December 2024 TO 10 January 2025

LITHUBA LAKHO: THIS IS YOUR CHANCE

Supporting Our Eastern Cape Visual Creatives

The Eastern Cape Development Corporation and Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality through the Red Location Art Gallery and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum are calling for works to be submitted for the exhibition, LITHUBA LAKHO: THIS IS YOUR CHANCE.

This year the competition has been extended to celebrate visual art alongside to craft made by artists living and working in the Eastern Cape.

ART OR CRAFT?

We will be looking for high technical ability in all submissions. However, the following will apply if you are submitting in VISUAL ART or CRAFT. Please note you can submit in both sections, but you must indicate if you want the work judged in the art or craft section.

Visual art - work that has an emotional impact and expresses a unique vision, idea, or feelings. The emphasis will be on looking for work that tells the unique story through a well-executed medium of visual art.

Craft – shows the mastery of a tangible skill, is utilitarian in nature and we will focus on goods which are functional and service a purpose and/or relate to interior design. The emphasis will be on the visual impact of the material and method. We will leave it up to the entrant to select under which category they would like to submit each work.

PRIZES AND CATALOGUE

We will be looking for the top ten VISUAL ART and top ten CRAFT submissions for a unique exhibition which will open at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum for the Mandela Bay Arts Festival opening 20 February 2025. The exhibition will run until 22 March 2025.

A top prize of R 15 000 will be awarded in both the VISUAL ART and CRAFT submissions. Second prize winner in both the VISUAL ART and CRAFT will receive prize money of R 10 000 each, and the third prize winner for both VISUAL ART and CRAFT will receive R 5000 each.

The exhibition will be accompanied by a catalogue promoting the selected works. The ECDC is currently building partnerships in national and international creative spaces. This platform will help to identify opportunities to promote and exhibit Eastern Cape visual art talent.

CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

We are looking for works by artists who work and live in the Eastern Cape and have made a significant contribution to the art of the region. The call-out is open to all artists 18 years or older as of 1 January 2025.

Number of entries: Each artist can submit a maximum of THREE works for selection. These may take the form of sets or assemblages. Entries must be the ORIGINAL WORK of the artist. Each submission must clearly be submitted for the Visual Art or Craft sections.

Entry Form: The entry form is available on the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum’s website: www.artmuseum.co.za and ECDC website www.ecdc.co.za or it can be emailed to you on request.

Submission: For consideration each artist must email digital submissions to nmm.artmuseum1956@gmail.com before or on 10 January 2025. You may send an email for each work.

Click here to view the entry form

Each submission must include:

•Completed entry form

•(5 or less) Digital images of the three submissions

Each artist must submit a maximum of five high-resolution images per entry, consisting of two views of the work in its entirety and three close up views for the selection panel to evaluate technique. Digital images must be in either JPEG or TIFF formats. Ensure that your camera or phone camera is set to take images at the highest-quality available in the settings.

•Resume or profile of the artist

•Maximum 500-word motivation for the works to be considered for the collection.

OPENING FUNCTION

The Eastern Cape Development Corporation and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum are looking to promote local art to wider audiences both locally and internationally and the aim is for this exhibition to travel. This part of the project will be confirmed at the opening function which will be held on Thursday, 20 February 2025 @ 17:00pm.

CONTACT DETAILS:

Nomabaso Bedeshe on cell: 079 694 0618 and email: nbedeshe@mandelametro.gov.za

Emma O' Brien on cell: 079 490 0690 and email: eobrien@mandelametro.gov.za

Athenkosi Baliso no cell: 0833963473 and email: abaliso@ecdc.co.za

Masimzukise Jack no cell: 0635021051 and email: mjack@ecdc.co.za

Current Exhibitions

Upcoming Exhibitions

Past Exhibitions

Contact Details

The Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum

Address:
1 Park Drive, Port Elizabeth, 6001, South Africa
Telephone:
+27 (0)41 506 2000 / Fax: +27 (0)41 586 3234
E-mail:
artmuseum@mandelametro.gov.za
Please address all correspondence to the Director.

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