Cape Town’s Southern Guild Gallery has achieved aa milestone by becoming one of the South African galleries to establish a permanent art space in America. Owners Trevyn and Julian McGowan have selected Los Angeles as the strategic location for expanding their business, exclusively dedicated to representing contemporary artists from Africa and also its diaspora.
The transformed interior, featuring three expansive exhibition spaces, meeting rooms, and viewing rooms, provides a flexible setting to showcase their diverse roster of artists from South Africa, Benin, Congo, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and beyond.
Trevyn McGowan expressed her long-standing affinity for Los Angeles, stating, “It’s a place that I’ve loved for years.” She highlighted the approachability of L.A., with its resemblance to home in terms of landscape, climate, and people. The decision to expand to L.A. was solidified during the 2022 Untitled Art Fair in Miami, marking a pivotal moment for Southern Guild.
Southern Guild’s strategic location in Melrose Hill, near the 101 and five miles northwest of downtown L.A., aligns with the area’s burgeoning reputation as the city’s next hot spot. The gallery’s presence contributes to the neighbourhood’s development, spearheaded by real estate magnate Zach Lasry, aiming to create a vibrant community with a New York street culture vibe.
Despite common misconceptions about Los Angeles, Trevyn McGowan emphasizes the city’s deep intellectualism and rigorous approach to art analysis and presentations. Southern Guild’s mission extends beyond high-dollar art collectors, aiming to introduce contemporary African art to a broader audience and fostering inclusivity in the community.
The McGowans, inspired by the growing interest in contemporary African art across the U.S., recognized the need for a more substantial presence than intermittent exposure in Chicago and New York. Southern Guild, initially launched in Cape Town in 2008, had become a regular participant in major U.S. art fairs, attracting a client base primarily based in America.
The gallery’s commitment to contemporary African art goes beyond a trend; it’s a way of life. Southern Guild aims to present a comprehensive program that transcends a singular lens, showcasing diverse approaches and perspectives. Sitting on a 5,000-square-foot space, the gallery is committed to public programming, educational initiatives, and cross-cultural exchanges. It plans to invite artists from Cape Town to participate in a residency program in L.A.
Southern Guild opens its new gallery in Los Angeles with a dual presentation: Mother Tongues, a group exhibition featuring 26 artists from the African continent, as well as Indyebo yakwaNtu (Black Bounty), a solo show by South African sculptor Zizipho Poswa.
With this inaugural exhibition, Southern Guild hopes to open a new chapter of exchange. The show occupies multiple contact zones, moving between visible surfaces and interior states. It therefore positions itself at the later trajectory of this artistic migration.
Poswa’s exhibition showcases her most ambitious technical undertaking, featuring colossal ceramic and bronze sculptures. The gallery is also set to highlight Zanele Muholi, a South African photographer known for her dramatic self-portraits.
Southern Guild’s venture into Los Angeles further represents a significant leap for the gallery and a landmark moment for South African contemporary art on the American stage.
