People
SARChI Chair in South African Art and Visual Culture
Brenda Schmahmann is the author of Through the Looking Glass: Representations of South African Women Artists (2004), Mapula: Embroidery and Empowerment in the Winterveld (2006), Picturing Change: Curating Visual Culture at Post-Apartheid Universities (2013) and The Keiskamma Art Project: Restoring Hope and livelihoods (2016). She is editor or co-editor of Material Matters (2000), Between Union and Liberation: Women Artists in South Africa, 1910-1994 (2005), Public Art in South Africa: Bronze Warriors and Plastic Presidents (2017), Troubling Images: Visual Culture and the Politics of Afrikaner Nationalism (2020) and Iconic Works of Art by Feminists and Gender Activists: Mistress-Pieces (2021). She has sole-authored more than 85 scholarly articles or book chapters as well as many reviews, and has curated two large-scale travelling exhibitions. She has also edited or co-edited special issues of African Arts, de arte, Textile: Cloth and Culture and Image & Text, and is co-editor of the Taylor & Francis journal, Public Art Dialogue. A finalist (top five) for the HERS-SA Higher Education Women Leaders Awards in the category: Humanities and Social Sciences in 2023, she also has a rating of B1 from the National Research Foundation.
E-mail: brendas@uj.ac.za
Telephone: 011 559 7220
Associate Professor
Irene Bronner is an Associate Professor with the South African Research Chair in South African Art and Visual Culture, in the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA), at the University of Johannesburg. Irene held a postdoctoral fellowship with the Chair (2016-2019), prior to which she received her D. Litt et Phil in 2016 from the University of Johannesburg with Prof. Brenda Schmahmann as her primary supervisor. She has participated in the CAA Getty International Program and has been awarded a Y1 researcher rating from the NRF and a University of Johannesburg Postdoctoral Research Fellows’ Excellence Award. She has published locally and internationally | https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1199-9636 . Her research interests centre on feminist new materialisms in the visual arts, with a focus on contemporary South Africa.
E-mail: ireneb@uj.ac.za
Telephone: 011 559 7225
Postdoctoral Research Fellows
Melissa Gerber (since January 2022)
Melissa Gerber received her PhD in Music (University of the Free State) in 2021. In her thesis entitled “(De)coding Contemporary South African Opera: Multimodality and the Creation of Meaning, 2010-2018,” she unpacked the multimodal character of opera production and constructed a framework to map the reciprocal processes of meaning-making between creators, designers, performers, and audiences. Building on her PhD, her current research focuses on the intersections between opera production and its material remnants within the broader network of apartheid-era visual culture. Her research has been published in conference proceedings in the UK and South Africa, and journals SAMUS: South African Music Studies and Music and Letters.
Email: mgerberventer@uj.ac.za
Everyjoy Magwegwe (Since December 2022)
Everjoy Magwegwe was awarded her PhD in Public Management (2021) from the Durban University of Technology with an Action Research study entitled “Community-based strategies for the prevention of gender-based violence in mining communities”. Everjoy received her M.SocSci in Development Studies from Lupane State University. Her postdoctoral project and publications find multi-disciplinary, community-based strategies to target developmental challenges in marginalised communities, using an Action Research methodology informed by the critical emancipatory advocacy paradigm. Her research interests centres on how women, girls and youth participate in and integrate popular and visual culture into everyday life. Her work engages with behaviour change and advocacy theories from a cultural, peace-building studies perspective, with feminism, and community development studies. Everjoy was featured in the 2021 Women’s Month South Africa DUT feature on the power of influential women as researchers.
Email: everjoymagwe@gmail.com
Kiranpreet Kaur, incoming 2025
Former Postdoctoral Research Fellows
Annemi Conradie (2019)
Currently Senior Lecturer and Director of the research niche ViNCO in the Faculty of Arts, University of the North West.
Elia Eliev (2021-2022)
Currently Director of a foundation in Canada
Elaine Ericksen Sullivan (2023-2024)
Currently Assistant Professor of Art History and African Cultural Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Irene Bronner (2016-2019)
Currently Associate Professor with the SARChI Chair in Art and Visual Culture, FADA, University of Johannesburg.
Malcolm Corrigall (2016-2018)
Currently Contents and Collections Assistant at Manchester Metropolitan University Library.
Mathodi Motsamayi (2019-2020)
N/A
Philippa Hobbs (2019-2023; Senior Postdoctoral Fellow 2023-4)
Currently Senior Research Associate with the SARChI Chair in South African Art and Visual Culture.
Theo Sonnekus (2021-2024)
Currently Theory Lecturer at Open Window, Stellenbosch.
PhD Candidates and their research projects
Bougaard, Reimagining the role of educational curatorship: A case study of the Wits Art Museum (Supervisor: Prof Irene Bronner; co-supervisor: Prof David Paton)
Carey-Anne Jayanandham, “Representations of women in the 1860 Settler Magazine” (Supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann; co-supervisor: Dr Irene Bronner)
Corné Johl, ‘Challenges and strategies in mediating conceptual art: the case of Willem Boshoff’. (Supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann)
Dominique Saayman [Project still to be determined] (Supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann; co-supervisor: Prof Irene Bronner)
Gabriel Baard, [Project still to be determined] (Supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann; co-supervisor: Dr Dineke Orton)
Kate’Lyn Chetty, “Family photographs and albums by three generations of South African Indian Women: Reading society through photography” (Supervisor: Dr Landi Raubenheimer; Co-supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann)
Luyanda Zindela, “Drawing as Critical Fabulation: Addressing the limits of a Family Archive” (Supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann; co-supervisor: Prof Alison Kearney)
Sinovuyo Makhubalo [Project still to be determined] (Supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann; co-supervisor: Dr Khaya Mchunu)
Stella Papakonstantinou, “Ritual, Community and Ancient Greek Drama Contemporary Practice: The case of Attiko School of Ancient Greek Drama in the city of Eleusis, Greece” (Supervisor: Dr Tarminder Kaur [Dept of Anthropology and Development Studies, UJ]; co-supervisor: Prof Irene Bronner)
S’nothile Gumede, “A History of the University of Johannesburg Art Collection” (Supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann).
Tsholofelo Moche [Project still to be determined] (Supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann; co-supervisor: Dr Philippa Hobbs)
Zena Hendricks [Project still to be determined] (Supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann)
PhD Graduates
Ayobola Kekere-Ekun, “Place branding in advertising campaigns by the Lagos state government” (Supervisor: Prof. Brenda Schmahmann; co-supervisor: Prof Deirdre Pretorius). Currently a professional artist based in Johannesburg
Deléne Human, “Censorship and proscription of visual art in apartheid South Africa”(Supervisor: Prof. Brenda Schmahmann). Currently Senior Lecturer in History of Art, Practical Art and Art Methodologies in the Department of Humanities Education at the University of Pretoria
Dineke van der Walt (Orton), “Curating Difficult Knowledge: Engagements with Sexual Violence in Exhibitions from the Early 21st Century”, Currently University Art Curator at the University of Johannesburg
Hazel Cuthbertson, “Ideas of Africanness in Alexis Preller’s Discovery of the Sea Route around Africa mural” (Supervisor: Prof. Brenda Schmahmann)
Irene Bronner, “Representations of Domestic Workers in Post-Apartheid South African Art Practice”; Currently Associate Professor, SARChI Chair, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, University of Johannesburg
Jayne Crawshay-Hall Robertson, “Reconceptualising curatorial strategies and roles: Autonomous curating in Johannesburg between 2007 and 2016”; Currently Academic Head at Open Window Institute
Khanya Mthethwa, “Decoloniality: An investigation of how coloniality of knowledge has impacted on BaVenda and AmaZulu waist belts” (Supervisor: Prof Anitra Nettleton; Co-supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann). Currently Lecturer in Jewellery Design at the University of Johannesburg
Philippa Hobbs, “Ideology, imagery and female agency in tapestry at the Evangelical Lutheran Church Art and Craft Centre, Rorke’s Drift, during the Swedish period 1961-1976”; Currently Senior Research Associate, SARChI Chair, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, University of Johannesburg
Roxy Do Rego, “Parodies of Classical Mythologies by Women Artists in Post-Apartheid South Africa”; Currently Research and Collections Manager at Open Window Institute
Sinethemba Twalo, “Affect, Objecthood and Blackness in Dineo Seshee Bopape’s Works” (Supervisor: Prof. Brenda Schmahmann). Currently Associate Lecturer in the Curatorial, Public and Visual Cultures department at the Wits School of Arts
Thabang Monoa, “The exploration of Blackness in Afrofuturist aesthetics” (Supervisor: Prof. Brenda Schmahmann). Currently Lecturer in Art History in the Michaelis School of Art, University of Cape Town
MA and M.Tech Candidates
Angie Lázaro
(Supervisor: Prof Irene Bronner; Co-supervisor: Prof Karen von Veh)
Anele Nzuza
(Supervisor: Dr Khaya Mchunu)
Bronwyn Armstrong
(Supervisor: Prof Irene Bronner; co-supervisor: Prof Kim Berman)
Cebo Matutu
(Supervisor: Prof Irene Bronner; co-supervisor: Dr Farieda Nazier)
Leonardo Sitoe
(Supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann; co-supervisor: Prof Ruth Sacks)
Lonwabo Mzamo
(Supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann; co-supervisor: Ms Shoni Netshia)
Sadie Swartz
(Supervisor: Prof Irene Bronner; co-supervisor: Dr Landi Raubenheimer)
MA and M.Tech Graduates
Alexa Pienaar
(Supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann; co-supervisor: Prof David Paton)
Allen Laing
(Supervisor: Dr David Paton; co-supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann)
Bougaard
(Supervisor: Dr Irene Bronner; co-supervisor: Prof David Paton)
Gershwin Fritz
(Supervisor: Dr Anthony Ambala)
Lira van Staden
(Supervisor Prof Brenda Schmahmann; co-supervisor: Prof. Alison Kearney)
Lisa Linossi
(Supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann; co-supervisor: Mr Vedant Nanackchand)
Jaylin Richardson
(Supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann; co-supervisor: Ms Bronwyn Findley)
Kate’Lyn Chetty
(Supervisor: Landi Raubenheimer; co-supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann)
Kailashnee Naidoo
(Supervisor: Dr Marlize Groenewald)
Khulile Sibanda
(Supervisor: Prof Deirdre Pretorius)
Kiveshan Thumbiran
(Supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann; co-supervisor: Ms Minnette Vari)
Lerato Maisela
(Supervisor: Prof Irene Bronner; Co-supervisor: Mr Thato Radebe)
Muziwandile Gigaba
(Supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann; co-supervisor: Prof Kim Berman)
Nthabiseng Mbale
(Supervisor: Dr Anthony Ambala; co-supervisor: Landi Raubenheimer)
Ra’eesah Hoosen
(Supervisor: Prof Deirdre Pretorius)
Tlotlo Sereisho
(Supervisor Prof Brenda Schmahmann; co-supervisor: Ms Bronwyn Findlay)
Xolisa Sibeko
(Supervisor: Dr Marelize Groenewald)
Vanessa Tembane
(Supervisor: Prof Brenda Schmahmann; co-supervisor: Mr Vedant Nanackchand)
Current B.Tech/Honours Candidates
B.Tech/Honours Graduates
Alexia Ferreira
Carey Jayanandham
Leonardo Sitoe
Lonwabo Mzamo
Sinead Fletcher
Tumelo Mtimkhulu
Visiting Professor of Practice
Usha Seejarum
Usha Seejarum is a professional artist based in Johannesburg whose work is known for her reinterpretation of apparently ordinary and domestic objects. She received a B-Tech Degree in Fine Art from the University of Johannesburg (1999) and a Master of Fine Art degree from the University of the Witwatersrand (2008). Amongst many awards, Seejarim has received the Dignitas Award from the University of Johannesburg. Her work is held in significant local and international collections, and she has exhibited extensively in both solo and group shows.
Visiting Associate Professor – Global Excellence 4.0
Staffan Löfving
Staffan Löfving is a social anthropologist and Head of Subject at the Intercultural Studies unit, the Department of Language, Literature and Intercultural Studies, Karlstad University, Sweden. A former photographer and journalist, Löfving is currently researching visual communication and the social life of images, themes he explores in different European and Latin American contexts and in collaboration with South African scholars and photographers. Based on long-term anthropological fieldwork in Guatemala and Colombia, he has published books and scholarly articles on displacement and emplacement, paramilitarism and the state, economic anthropology, and union organizing in times of economic crisis.
Email: staffan.lofving@kau.se
Visiting Associate Professor – Global Excellence 4.0
Shanade Barnabas
Shanade Bianca Barnabas is in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Groningen, Netherlands. An NRF Y2 rated scholar, she was formerly Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Communication and Media at the University of Johannesburg. Her research is at the juncture of culture, indigeneity and heritage. Her current research interest is on how contested heritage is negotiated in societies with a view to critically evaluate the hits and misses in the heritage landscape of societies of conflict.
Email: s.b.barnabas@rug.nl
Senior Research Associates
Philippa Hobbs
Philippa Hobbs held a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship with the SARChI Chair in South African Art and Visual Culture from July 2019 – June 2023, whereafter she was invited to the position of Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow for a year. Philippa’s PhD (University of Johannesburg, 2019) examined issues of ideology and female agency in tapestries made at the Evangelical Lutheran Church Art and Craft Centre, Rorke’s Drift, during the Swedish period 1961-1976. She was supervised by Prof. Brenda Schmahmann; view a compilation of her graduation. She was instrumental in collating the Power, Gender and Community Art Archive and lodging it at the University of Johannesburg Library. Philippa has co-authored three publications (with Elizabeth Rankin), including Listening to Distant Thunder: The Art of Peter Clarke (2011) and Rorke’s Drift: Empowering Prints (2003). As Curator of the MTN Art Collection (2004-2014), Philippa curated national travelling exhibitions, also editing accompanying publications, notably Messages and Meaning (2005). Since 2019, Philippa has been extending her PhD research to some of the outcomes of the Rorke’s Drift practice, such as the Thabana-li-Mele weavery in Lesotho and Allina Ndebele’s independent workshop in Northern KwaZulu-Natal. She has a C2 NRF researcher rating.
Email: phobbs123@gmail.com
Research Associates
Paul Weinberg
Paul Weinberg is a well-known and award-winning South African documentary photographer, filmmaker, writer, curator and archivist. He was a founder member of Afrapix and South, the collection photo agencies that gained international recognition for their role in documenting apartheid and resistance to it. Since 1990, he has shifted towards a focus on feature rather than news photography. He is based in Cape Town. Paul has a rating of C1 from the National Research Foundation.
Email: pwein@iafrica.com