works artists contact ![]()
Barend Jacobus Engelbrecht
![]()
Johannesburg-based artist and researcher whose main creative and theoretical interest is in sound and its relationship to time and space, particularly within the dynamic urban environment of Johannesburg. He completed his Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in fine art at the University of the Witwatersrand with a specific focus on sound installation for which he won the Martienssen prize. Most recently he has completed his PhD in fine art entitled Sound Art: Space, Time and Johannesburg (2020) and is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Wits. His current research provides an auditory perspective on the relationship between urban design and the cultural ecology of the city. He is interested in what lay beneath the habitual auditory ambiances of urban experience and how sound art could potentially connect the ear to a new perception of the sonic environment, time, its gradual unfolding, and the becoming of the present.
Barend Jacobus Engelbrecht
![]()
Johannesburg-based artist and researcher whose main creative and theoretical interest is in sound and its relationship to time and space, particularly within the dynamic urban environment of Johannesburg. He completed his Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in fine art at the University of the Witwatersrand with a specific focus on sound installation for which he won the Martienssen prize. Most recently he has completed his PhD in fine art entitled Sound Art: Space, Time and Johannesburg (2020) and is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Wits. His current research provides an auditory perspective on the relationship between urban design and the cultural ecology of the city. He is interested in what lay beneath the habitual auditory ambiances of urban experience and how sound art could potentially connect the ear to a new perception of the sonic environment, time, its gradual unfolding, and the becoming of the present.
Through dance, Thulisile Binda grapples with complex and enduring themes of the physical and the psychological in equal measure. Using her innovative and collaborative approach to performance, she seeks to interrogate the placement of a womxn’s body in contemporary society, and questions how the body is located and perceived more broadly. Her work is known for its striking blend of raw physicalit and unique musicality, alive with a responsive fluidity and driven by the inherent narrative of the body.
Binda’s journey into performance began in 2010 with Latin Dance. Taking up dance classes while studying towards a degree in Electrical Engineering, Binda soon won numerous accolades for dance and went on to compete at a Championship Level. In 2013, she honed her drama and performance skills through Flatfoot Dance Company, Siwela Sonke Dance Theatre and Vuyani Dance Theatre. She would later go on to work with Luthando Dance Academy as a Senior Company member and an assistant Rehearsal Director. Since then, Binda has collaborated with different artists, dancers and choreographers and has performed in award-winning works that have been performed across the world. As a choreographer, Binda created her debut work iThemba in 2017 which received multiple awards and has been performed at festivals and platforms in South Africa. In addition to her work as a dancer and choreographer, Binda runs her own company, Body Ability, which aims to work with dancers, athletes and sports clubs in conditioning their bodies to boost their technique, body intelligence and overall athletic ability.
Johan Thom
![]()
Johan Thom (b. 1976) lives and works in Pretoria as a visual artist. He holds a PhD in Fine Art from the Slade School of Fine Art (UCL) on a Cannon-collins Commonwealth Scholarship and is an Associate Professor and Coordinator of Fine Art at the University of Pretoria.
Thom’s artistic interests have gradually shifted from the body a site of identity to a close exploration of the performative, material relationship between the body and found objects. Solo exhibitions by Thom include the Johannesburg Art Gallery (2008), Iwalewahaus (2010), Nirox Project Space (2014), the Goodman Gallery (2015) and Kalashnikovv Gallery (2023). Group exhibitions include the Venice Biennale (2003), the Canary Islands Biennale (2006) and the Palazzo delle Papesse (2008). He has participated in conferences, workshops and artistic programmes at the Venice Biennale (2003, 2005), the University of Cambridge (2009), the Slade School of Fine Art (2010/11/12), Documenta 13 (2012), the University of Pretoria (2013/14/15/21/2/23), ‘The Octopus Programme’ (2020–22, University of Applied Arts Vienna), the African Centre for the Study of the United States (2022, IDSVA, Wits, UP, Nirox), ‘A Research of Doing’ (2021–23, University of Applied Arts Vienna, The Centre For the Less Good Idea and UP), ‘Listening at The Edge’ (2022–23, Pro Helvetia), and elsewhere.
Thom has been awarded numerous grants, residencies and fellowships including the Ampersand Foundation Fellowship (2005), the Clair and Eduardo Villa Trust (2016 & 2023), Britto Arts Trust in Bangladesh (2006), Pro Helvetia Residency Sierre, Switzerland (2007) and most recently the Casa Wabi Foundation (Mexico, 2024).
Johan Thom
![]()
Johan Thom (b. 1976) lives and works in Pretoria as a visual artist. He holds a PhD in Fine Art from the Slade School of Fine Art (UCL) on a Cannon-collins Commonwealth Scholarship and is an Associate Professor and Coordinator of Fine Art at the University of Pretoria.
Thom’s artistic interests have gradually shifted from the body a site of identity to a close exploration of the performative, material relationship between the body and found objects. Solo exhibitions by Thom include the Johannesburg Art Gallery (2008), Iwalewahaus (2010), Nirox Project Space (2014), the Goodman Gallery (2015) and Kalashnikovv Gallery (2023). Group exhibitions include the Venice Biennale (2003), the Canary Islands Biennale (2006) and the Palazzo delle Papesse (2008). He has participated in conferences, workshops and artistic programmes at the Venice Biennale (2003, 2005), the University of Cambridge (2009), the Slade School of Fine Art (2010/11/12), Documenta 13 (2012), the University of Pretoria (2013/14/15/21/2/23), ‘The Octopus Programme’ (2020–22, University of Applied Arts Vienna), the African Centre for the Study of the United States (2022, IDSVA, Wits, UP, Nirox), ‘A Research of Doing’ (2021–23, University of Applied Arts Vienna, The Centre For the Less Good Idea and UP), ‘Listening at The Edge’ (2022–23, Pro Helvetia), and elsewhere.
Thom has been awarded numerous grants, residencies and fellowships including the Ampersand Foundation Fellowship (2005), the Clair and Eduardo Villa Trust (2016 & 2023), Britto Arts Trust in Bangladesh (2006), Pro Helvetia Residency Sierre, Switzerland (2007) and most recently the Casa Wabi Foundation (Mexico, 2024).
Jurgen Meekel
![]()
Jurgen Meekel studied at the Rietveld Academy of Fine-Arts in audio-visual art and sculpture in Amsterdam where he finished cum laude in 1989. Since then he works on contemporary art installation pieces, sculptures and video work that he exhibited nationally and internationally. His work has been acquired by the Central Museum of Modern Art in Utrecht. In the more applied fields of the arts he works on motion-graphic design, animation, camera and sound work, compositing, visual effects, editing, music scoring and theatre projection design. He currently lectures Post Production and VFX at Wits School of the Arts in Film&TV and has his MA
in Fine Arts at Wits.
Jurgen Meekel
![]()
Jurgen Meekel studied at the Rietveld Academy of Fine-Arts in audio-visual art and sculpture in Amsterdam where he finished cum laude in 1989. Since then he works on contemporary art installation pieces, sculptures and video work that he exhibited nationally and internationally. His work has been acquired by the Central Museum of Modern Art in Utrecht. In the more applied fields of the arts he works on motion-graphic design, animation, camera and sound work, compositing, visual effects, editing, music scoring and theatre projection design. He currently lectures Post Production and VFX at Wits School of the Arts in Film&TV and has his MA
in Fine Arts at Wits.
Andrea Rolfes achieved her degree in fine art through the Wits Technichon and the Rietveld Academy in the Netherlands. Andrea is an artist, designer and curator who lives in Johannesburg. Prior to this Andrea lived in the Netherlands, where she practiced and exhibited; also exhibiting in France and Italy. Andrea's artworks often combine drawn, painted, stitche and machine sewn elements. Her work is autobiographical and experiential, exhibiting a fine and fragmented aesthetic approach.
Andrea Rolfes achieved her degree in fine art through the Wits Technichon and the Rietveld Academy in the Netherlands. Andrea is an artist, designer and curator who lives in Johannesburg. Prior to this Andrea lived in the Netherlands, where she practiced and exhibited; also exhibiting in France and Italy. Andrea's artworks often combine drawn, painted, stitche and machine sewn elements. Her work is autobiographical and experiential, exhibiting a fine and fragmented aesthetic approach.
Jill Richards
![]()
Jill Richards is a South African pianist working primarily in Johannesburg and Europe. Her musical interests range from contemporary classical music and free improvisation, as well as the standard piano repertoire.
An important part of Jill’s work is collaborating with artists from a wide range of disciplines - music, visual art, video, dance, theatre and poetry. Collaborators include include Kevin Volans, William Kentridge, Francisco Lopez, Sudeep Sen, Marcus Neustetter and Dorothee Kreuzfeldt. She is also part of the Johannesburg-based collective Playgroup, with Jurgen Meekel and BJ Engelbrecht.
Her long term musical partnership with Swiss composer-drummer, with tours in Europe and Southern Africa, Christophe Fellay led to the formation of the LATE project in 2022.
Jill has released six CDs, including three of the music of Kevin Volans, who has dedicated a number of works to her.
Jill Richards is a Steinway Artist.
Jill Richards
![]()
Jill Richards is a South African pianist working primarily in Johannesburg and Europe. Her musical interests range from contemporary classical music and free improvisation, as well as the standard piano repertoire.
An important part of Jill’s work is collaborating with artists from a wide range of disciplines - music, visual art, video, dance, theatre and poetry. Collaborators include include Kevin Volans, William Kentridge, Francisco Lopez, Sudeep Sen, Marcus Neustetter and Dorothee Kreuzfeldt. She is also part of the Johannesburg-based collective Playgroup, with Jurgen Meekel and BJ Engelbrecht.
Her long term musical partnership with Swiss composer-drummer, with tours in Europe and Southern Africa, Christophe Fellay led to the formation of the LATE project in 2022.
Jill has released six CDs, including three of the music of Kevin Volans, who has dedicated a number of works to her.
Jill Richards is a Steinway Artist.
Christophe Fellay
Andrea Rolfes achieved her degree in fine art through the Wits Technichon and the Rietveld Academy in the Netherlands. Andrea is an artist, designer and curator who lives in Johannesburg. Prior to this Andrea lived in the Netherlands, where she practiced and exhibited; also exhibiting in France and Italy. Andrea's artworks often combine drawn, painted, stitche and machine sewn elements. Her work is autobiographical and experiential, exhibiting a fine and fragmented aesthetic approach.
Christophe Fellay
Andrea Rolfes achieved her degree in fine art through the Wits Technichon and the Rietveld Academy in the Netherlands. Andrea is an artist, designer and curator who lives in Johannesburg. Prior to this Andrea lived in the Netherlands, where she practiced and exhibited; also exhibiting in France and Italy. Andrea's artworks often combine drawn, painted, stitche and machine sewn elements. Her work is autobiographical and experiential, exhibiting a fine and fragmented aesthetic approach.