SBYA Visual Art 1984 – Now, on view at the Standard Bank Art Lab in Johannesburg, is a landmark exhibition celebrating 40 years of the Standard Bank Young Artist Awards
A Landmark Exhibition
Standard Bank Art Lab is Johannesburg’s dynamic new art hub at Nelson Mandela Square in the heart of Sandton’s CBD. Reflecting the bank’s commitment to innovation and democratising the visual arts, the space is a vibrant centre for artistic talent and art lovers alike.
Last month, The Art Lab unveiled a significant new exhibition titled SBYA Visual Art 1984 – Now, which showcases four decades of South African visual arts history and celebrates 40 years of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award (SBYA).
This landmark exhibition explores the transformative changes South Africa has undergone through the works of 40 SBYA recipients for Visual Arts between 1984 and 2025. It invites art enthusiasts to not only celebrate the artistic brilliance of the works on display, but to reflect on our socio-political history and rich cultural tapestry.
The exhibition also highlights the vital role Standard Bank has played in South Africa’s art evolution since taking over the sponsorship of the awards in 1984, presenting Young Artist Awards in all the major arts disciplines, as well as posthumous and special recognition awards.
Four Decades of South African Art
Compiled by Dr Same Mdluli, Curator and Manager of the Standard Bank Art Gallery and Art Lab, the exhibition forges a path through time by bringing together works from the art collections of six major institutions in South African art, all of which broaden how we view the way art and heritage is collected, preserved and made available to the public.
The collections represented include those from the Standard Bank Corporate Collection, the SABC Art Collection, the Rupert Museum in Stellenbosch, Wits Arts Museum, the Johannesburg Art Gallery, and the Iziko Museums of South Africa.
Curatorial Vision and Cultural Impact
Presenting rarely seen masterpieces of contemporary South African art, Dr Mdluli notes that the collection not only highlights the works and artists behind them, but reinforces Standard Bank’s visionary empowerment of artistic talent in South Africa and across the continent.
“This exhibition marks a significant milestone for the bank as we forge ahead with our commitment to championing the arts,” says Dr Mdluli. “The exhibition reflects both the artistic and institutional dynamics that shape our art historical reality.”
Through these artistic perspectives by SBYA alumni, the exhibition reflects both tumultuous times in our history as well as the hope borne from them. It provides a window into pivotal moments within the development of South African art, represented in the works of 40 SBYA recipients, including William Kentridge (1987), Diane Victor (1988), Mary Sibande (2013), Mohau Modisakeng (2016), Beth Diane Armstrong (2017), Helen Sebidi (1989) and Blessing Ngobeni (2020).
In keeping with Standard Bank Art Lab’s growing role as a centre for innovation, exploration, reflection, dialogue, and creativity, the exhibition also offers a series of interactive programmesand immersions. These range from talks by SBYA alumni to activations for pupils to engage with the artworks and their history, and fun experiences for families to enjoy during the holiday season.
“The exhibition affords us an opportunity to present these works in a way that enriches our ongoing conversations about who we are, who we have been and who we are becoming as a culture and society,” Dr Mdluli adds.
As South Africa prepares to host the G20 and B20 later this month, Dr Mdluli notes the essential role of the arts in our country.
“We are presented with an opportunity to spotlight the arts as a key contributor to economic growth and the responsibility among private and public stakeholders to ensure the industry is sustained and profitable,” she concludes.
SBYA Visual Art 1984 –Now is on view until 31 January 2026. Visit standardbank.com/sponsorship and follow @StandardBankArts for more information.
