'Intersections: Bill Ainslie and the Johannesburg Art Foundation' is an exhibition that celebrates the legacy of influential artist Bill Ainslie and the equally influential foundation that he established.
The exhibition is curated by Wilhelm van Rensburg, Senior Art Specialist and Head Curator at Strauss & Co, and Kagiso Pat Mautloa, artist and Johannesburg Art Foundation affiliate.
The Johannesburg Art Foundation flourished between 1982 and 1992 as an oasis of creativity in a context of oppression. The ethos of the Foundation was informed by Ainslie’s understanding of art making as a journey of self-discovery that he insisted should be open to all, resulting in a unique, non-racial space where people from different backgrounds could meet, learn, and create together.
Paintings by this visionary artist have been installed alongside works by many Johannesburg Art Foundation affiliates to explore ideas about freedom, abstraction, and personal voice. Artworks have been selected from Wits Art Museum’s holdings and supplemented by strategic loans to create an immersive exhibition that underscores the enduring impact of Ainslie’s vision and those who stood with him.