Bag Factory Artists’ Studios, in collaboration with Strauss & Co. Education and Fine Art Auctioneers, is delighted to announce Tawanda Takura from Zimbabwe as the recipient of the prestigious 13th Cassirer Welz Award. Founded in 2011 by Nobel Laureate Nadine Gordimer in memory of her husband Reinhold Cassirer’s passion for the arts, this award has evolved into a significant recognition for emerging artists. Following the passing of Stephan Welz, the award was renamed to honor both men’s invaluable contributions to the South African art scene.

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The Cassirer Welz Award, through its enduring partnership with Strauss Education, has played a pivotal role in launching the careers of its recipients, aiding them in gaining recognition within the South African art market. As the award celebrates over a decade of excellence, Bag Factory Artists’ Studios and Strauss Education continue their dedication to nurturing emerging talent.

Expanding its reach across the continent, the 2024 call for entries attracted artists from several countries within the Triangle Network, including Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. It is with immense pride that the award this year is presented to a Zimbabwean artist.

The selection jury, comprising Bag Factory Director Maria Fidel Regueros, Programmes Manager Nala Xaba, Strauss & Co. Executive Director Client Advisory Khetiwe McClain, and Art Specialist Arisha Maharaj, unanimously agreed on Takura’s exceptional talent. His self-taught practice in found object sculpture stands to benefit greatly from this opportunity for both creative and professional development.

“Since its inception, this award has helped the winners launch their careers and start making a name for themselves. It recognizes artistic excellence, encourages creative practice, and provides the supportive space and presentation platforms required by emerging artists. This award is an important part of Strauss & Co.’s ongoing and substantial commitment to young talent in Southern Africa and on the continent – and is a powerful example of the company’s investment in the art of the future,” said Susie Goodman, Executive Director, Strauss & Co.

With the generous support of Strauss & Co. and funding from Business and Arts South Africa (BASA), Takura will receive a three-month residency at the Bag Factory Artists’ Studios from July 8 to September 27, 2024. He will work alongside permanent and visiting artists at various stages in their careers. The residency includes contributions to travel, accommodation, per diem, materials, and production costs, culminating in a solo exhibition of new works at the Bag Factory, open to the public at the end of September.

Previous winners of this award, such as Blessing Ngobeni, Bulumko Mbete, Nompumelelo Ngoma, Tshepo Mosopa, Asanda Kupa, Thato Nhlapho, Richard “Specs” Ndimande, Keneilwe Mokoena, DuduBloom More, and Levy Pooe, have all successfully launched their careers and established their presence in the South African art market.

This year’s finalists included:

Fred Zucule: A photographer, poet, and cultural worker from Maputo, Mozambique, currently based in Nairobi, Kenya. Their work explores themes of migration, queerness, and care, using the body as a tool, metaphor, and subject. Raised across multiple geographies, their photography blends these experiences through a mystical, surreal, and queer lens.

Chumani “ivukuvuku” Mantanga: From eMgwenyane village in the Eastern Cape, she is a multi-dimensional artist working across textiles, painting, glass, ceramics, writing, photography, and performance. Her work explores themes of memory, healing, history, and ancestry, connecting deeply with the materials she uses.

Keabetswe Seema: A visual artist from Johannesburg, she holds a BA in Fine Arts from the University of Pretoria. Her practice revolves around the politics of the body and identity, exploring themes of Afro-futurism, non-monolithic selfhood, family archives, spirituality, and the hypervisible body.

Masindi Ikhona Nafisa Mbolekwa: Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Mbolekwa’s work engages with painting, history, culture, space, community, and God. He interrogates identity, colonial mechanisms, religion, metaphysics, and popularized histories through his explorative art.

Nyashadzashe Marovatsanga: A young painter from Harare, Zimbabwe, who has developed a powerful painterly language under the mentorship of Misheck Masamvu. His works have been exhibited internationally and are part of various prestigious collections.

Treasure Mlima: A self-taught artist from Durban, South Africa, born in 1999. His works are composed of 2D prints that deal with space and identity from an African perspective. Mlima’s artistic process involves digitally manipulating found images into collages, which are then carved into wood and painted with oil-based and acrylic inks.

We look forward to seeing the incredible work Tawanda Takura will produce during his residency and are excited to continue supporting the next generation of artistic talent across Africa.