Then I Knew I Was Good at Painting: Esther Mahlangu, A Retrospective

In February 2024, the landmark retrospective Then I Knew I Was Good at Painting: Esther Mahlangu, A Retrospective opened at the Iziko South African National Gallery, honouring Dr Mahlangu's extraordinary eight-decade career. Curated by Nontobeko Ntombela, the exhibition brought together more than 100 artworks gathered from international collections, placed alongside historic photographs and a short film.

"Painting has always been a part of me. I cannot separate it from myself, and neither would I want to. I look forward to sharing my practice and long and colourful story with you on my upcoming Retrospective Exhibition." — Esther Mahlangu

Through the language of colour and form, the exhibition charts Dr Mahlangu's contribution to contemporary art across more than seven decades — from her early days painting on traditional Ndebele homesteads to her global recognition as one of South Africa's most celebrated contemporary artists. Included in the exhibition is her BMW 525i Art Car, returning to South Africa for the first time in over 30 years.

"Through my art I have seen the world. In turn, the world learnt about my Ndebele heritage. I speak isiNdebele, I walk isiNdebele, and I wear isiNdebele — it is my culture." — Esther Mahlangu

Following its debut in Cape Town, the retrospective travelled to the Wits Art Museum (WAM) in Johannesburg, where it was on view from 20 November 2024 to 17 April 2025.

Venues

• Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town — 18 February – 11 August 2024
• Wits Art Museum (WAM), Johannesburg — 20 November 2024 – 17 April 2025

The Curatorial Statement

Curator Nontobeko Ntombela:

"Mahlangu's journey is a testament to passion, innovation, and resilience. The retrospective pays homage to Esther Mahlangu's unique approach to art, which intersects African cultures with modernity and the contemporary. The exhibition celebrates Mahlangu's voice, agency, and pioneering spirit, symbolising her self-enunciation, self-determination and creativity."

Ntombela disrupts the chronological expectations of a retrospective by placing the curatorial statement at either end of the exhibition, creating a circularity that resists the art-historical urge to map out a sequential viewing of Dr Mahlangu's body of work. Instead, the exhibition takes a thematic approach — one that positions her practice within a larger community of Ndebele women who have carried this tradition across generations.

The title itself draws from Dr Mahlangu's own words: she did not find validation in her work from the public or from art-historical acknowledgement, but rather through her mother and grandmother, who issued their approval after she painted on the walls of her familial home — only then did she know she was good at painting.

A Landmark for South African Art

Of the exhibition, Dr Bongani Ndhlovu, Acting CEO, Iziko Museums of South Africa, says: "Iziko Museums is honoured to celebrate the living legend, Dr Esther Mahlangu, and to host this colossal showcase where creativity, culture, and aesthetics are fused."

The retrospective is a landmark achievement for South African art, recognising Dr Mahlangu as one of the few South African artists to present a retrospective exhibition in world-renowned museums. Peter van Binsbergen, CEO of BMW Group South Africa, comments: "We are especially excited about the return of the BMW Art Car to South African soil — a significant symbol of our shared history and appreciation for art that transcends boundaries."