William Kentridge

Born in 1955 in Johannesburg, South Africa, multimedia artist William Kentridge grew up under the pall of apartheid. By employing varied mediums, Kentridge seeks to construct meaning through the use of historical resources, including maps, language and everyday imagery, while always maintaining a space for contradiction and uncertainty. He is internationally acclaimed for his artworks, theater and opera productions. His method combines drawing and erasing, tearing, gestural painting, collage, weaving, casting, writing, film, performance, music, theater and collaborative practices to create works of art that are grounded in politics, science, literature and history, yet maintain a space for contradiction and uncertainty. Kentridge is the recipient of honorary doctorates from several universities including Yale and the University of London. Across the past thirty years he has received the Kyoto Prize, the Princesa de Asturias Award for the Arts, and many others. His work has been exhibited at museums worldwide, including The Broad in Los Angeles, The Royal Academy of Arts in London, and the SFMOMA, among others. He still lives and works in Johannesburg.