Making a mark on art world's white canvas
Our struggling black artists complain of bias by 'gatekeepers' and galleries
The relationship between artists and galleries is one of interdependence. Artists need the backing of galleries to help their careers — and galleries without artists are just empty rooms. But these relationships are not always symbiotic: the scale often tips in favour of gallery owners. In South Africa, an artist who can make a living from their art is rare — and it's even harder for black artists. When it comes to the names of acclaimed local artists, only a small number are black. Is this because there are no black artists, or is it because the art world is another industry that needs to be - to use a buzz word — decolonised? A black artist who has worked within the gallery system and independently (and does not want to be named for fear of reprisal) says the business side of art often leaves black artists at a disadvantage. "Black visual artists ... find themselves in quite a precarious space, constantly negotiating between institutions that all but disregard them. "From gallerie...
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