The MTN SA Foundation, in collaboration with the UJ Art Gallery, has appointed Amogelang Maledu as the curator for the 2025-2026 MTN x UJ New Contemporaries Award (NCA) programme.
Selected by the NCA Legacy Panel, Maledu’s appointment is the latest milestone in her career as an emerging figure in the South African art scene. The research phase of the programme will begin in March 2025, during which Maledu will conduct extensive research on emerging South African artists working within contemporary genres. Her process will involve traveling to galleries, museums, and artists’ studios across various provinces, as well as engaging with experts in the field of contemporary South African art.
Dr. Dineke Orton, curator of the UJ Art Gallery, expressed enthusiasm about Maledu’s approach, noting her ability to bring often-overlooked artists into the spotlight and present their stories in ways that resonate with audiences. Maledu’s work will culminate in an exhibition at the UJ Art Gallery in 2026, where she will showcase four artists nominated as a result of her research.
The NCA programme opened for curatorial applications in July 2024 at the Free State Arts Festival in Bloemfontein. Maledu was selected from 37 submissions to be the curator for the 2025-2026 MTN x UJ New Contemporaries Award. The NCA Legacy Panel, which includes previous curators Dr. Portia Malatjie, Dr. Nontobeko Akoi-Jackson, Khwezi Gule, and Melissa Goba, alongside Dr. Orton, reviewed the submissions.
Maledu’s curatorial focus will highlight artists working with digital and virtual mediums, aligning with the MTN Foundation’s commitment to advancing the relationship between art and technology.
“The incorporation of virtual reality into these exhibitions is an exciting development for me,” Maledu said, emphasizing her interest in exploring new technological formats.
As part of the NCA programme, the FADA Gallery will host a Winter School in July 2025 to educate school learners about contemporary art. This initiative also reflects the programme’s broader mission to foster greater art literacy and engagement among younger audiences.
