PRESS RELEASE
MMAKGABO MMAPULA HELEN SEBIDI | Whispers of the Past Wisdom of the Future
Jul 18 – Aug 22, 2026
Everard Read's CIRCA Gallery is deeply honoured to present Whispers of the Past, Wisdom of the Future, a major solo exhibition by the legendary South African artist Mmakgabo Mmapula Mmankgato Helen Sebidi.
Sebidi's work is rooted in the power of community, collective endeavour, and the importance of honouring where we come from, in order to build where we are going. Her practice maintains a connection to African tradition, ancestral knowledge, and her lived experience as a woman and artist in South Africa. Through her distinctive visual language, Sebidi creates a living dialogue between past and present, translating sacred cultural narratives into contemporary forms.
This exhibition brings into focus a less frequently examined aspect of Sebidi's career: her long history of creative collaboration.
Over several decades, Sebidi has worked alongside generations of master printmakers in South Africa and abroad; including Kim Berman, David Krut, Malcolm Christian, Mark Attwood and collaborators in Sweden, using these exchanges to continually expand the possibilities of print within her practice.
These collaborations have not only refined her technical mastery but have also fostered a dynamic global exchange of ideas, bringing South African cultural heritage into conversation with international printmaking traditions.
Curated to reveal both the monumental and intimate dimensions of Sebidi's oeuvre, Whispers of the Past, Wisdom of the Future presents a rare opportunity to engage with the work of one of South Africa's most celebrated artists.
To conclude the exhibition, CIRCA Gallery will host a special screening of a 10-minute documentary film offering rare behind-the-scenes insight into Sebidi's creative process. The film provides a personal glimpse into the artist's working methods, inspirations, and commitment to storytelling through art.
For further information or to request a catalogue, please contact:
Stephanie Smith
stephanie@everard.co.za
