The gallerinas have their poker-faces ready to sell art. The art has been hung, the sculptures polished, the artist’s statements written and on the wall, and the floors buffed to a shine. It’s official, the 2025 RMB Latitudes Fair is upon us, beloved! And they have brought together artists and exhibitors from across the continent to transform Shepstone Gardens from May 23 – 25. We’re so excited to be present in a space where it’s encouraged to be an admirer and a supporter of artists.
This year’s central theme, Co-Production, underscores the fair’s commitment to fostering collaborative efforts among artists, galleries, and institutions. It reflects a pan-African ethos of unity and shared creativity, aiming to create a more inclusive and interconnected art ecosystem.
What caught our attention is that this year, in the leadup to the Fair, RMB Latitudes produced a video campaign to shine a spotlight on six such voices that shape the African art ecosystem consisting of artists, collectors and curators. Here’s one that moved us. Meet artist Farhana Jacobs.
Index is back as an annual platform dedicated to championing independent artists.Curated by celebrated artist Bonolo Kavula, this year’s edition is titled Invisible Thread and offers a space dedicated to experimentation and new voices.
Invisible Thread weaves together the work of eight independent artists in a collective exploration of identity, connection, and materiality. Through a range of media – from thread and textiles to sculpture and print – these artists engage in a shared dialogue that celebrates experimentation, vulnerability, and the intricate processes behind their work. This year, INDEX highlights abstract art, inviting artists to explore the concept of abstraction and its many interpretations. Disturbed Currents: Art for a Warming World is an outdoor exhibition that tackles climate change, examining the interconnected relationship between humans and the environment through powerful artistic expression.
ESSAY brings together a cross-generational dialogue between artists Amalie von Maltitz and Sydney Kumalo, featuring stoneware sculptures and charcoal drawings that reflect on heritage, memory, and artistic evolution. The fair also showcases participating galleries & emerging artists, with over 50 galleries and more than 300 artists represented.
The fair also showcases participating galleries & emerging artists, with over 50 galleries and more than 300 artists represented. This includes leading South African spaces such as Southern Guild, Stevenson, and Everard Read, alongside notable local and international galleries are;
FEDE Arthouse: A nomadic gallery
AMG Projects: A new Nigerian space.
Affinity Gallery: Based in Lagos, Nigeria.
Afriart Gallery: From Kampala, Uganda.
BODE Projects: Located in Berlin, Germany
We will be covering all aspects of the fair in case you aren’t able to be present and simply because we love a good art kiki in this house.
The fair will run from May 23–25, 2025 at Shepstone Gardens, 12 Hope Road, Mountain View, Johannesburg. With the fair having announced that tickets are sold out we hope a ticket to this must-attend event finds you.
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