introducing
WILLIAM & PEARL GALLERY
About
Brainchild of Ishka Designs’ Creative Director, Niya Bascom, William & Pearl Gallery (est. 2024) is the natural progression of many decades of art acquisitions, art exploration, and an inherent desire to uplift community. Built on the foundation of heritage and culture, the gallery is a living tribute to his Jamaican and guyanese parents, focusing on the richness and diversity of Diasporic arts. With every curation and representation, the gallery stays true to its mission: to spotlight Diasporic artists and build bridges across continents through art that speaks to history and heritage.
Current Curations
May 2025 - A Journey Into Soul Songs: Solo Works by Thokozani Mthiyane
Activated by Tanya Weddemire Gallery. See gallery hours here.
Represented Artists
THOKOZANI MTHIYANE
Bio
Thokozani Mthiyane is a Johannesburg-based artist and co-founder of The Enso Circle. After finishing school, Mthiyane spent time in the studios of painters Sfiso KaMkame and Thami Jali in Cleremont Township near Durban, where he grew up. His interactions with these artists greatly influenced his creative path, which led to his first solo exhibition at the Flat Gallery in Durban.
Mthiyane's artistic journey extends across multiple disciplines, and he speaks as passionately about his work as an expressionist painter as he does about his experiences as a trilingual poet, musician, and dancer. He gained experience in children's theater with the Madcap's Educational Theatre Company. He has performed in France, translated French poetry into Zulu at Cave Poésie in Toulouse, and toured with the Inzalo dance company in Holland. He also returned to France in 2001 and 2004 to perform Jacques Prévert's poems in Heroville, near Normandy.
Thokozani’s recent exhibitions include shows in 2023 The Interpretation of poetry, Turbine Art Fair, Johannesburg Blaque Inq Contemporary, 2017 Soul Songs: The shape of my head, Art Eye Gallery, Johannesburg, 2015 Whetin dey happen Lagos/ Jozi, Msanzi Gallery, Johannesburg.
Group Exhibitions
2024 Group show at Tanya Weddemire Gallery Curated by Ishka Designs & Art Hedge, 2024 Group show at The Pencil Club Durban Curated by Zinhle Khumalo, 2024 Group show at Vinosity, 44 Stanley Johannesburg Curated by Amanda Plaatjie, 2023 Group Show, Latitudes Art Fair.
His work is included in private collections such as Art Bank Collection and Riboville Collection. More info.