ACCLAIMED SOUTH AFRICAN CONTEMPORARY EXHIBITION EXTENDED THROUGH OCT. 22 AT AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM, DALLAS
On view during the State Fair of Texas, “If You Look Hard Enough, You Can See Our Future” highlights 55 emerging, mid-career and renowned artists.
DALLAS (July 12, 2023) – After overwhelmingly positive reviews and unprecedented attendance, “If You Look Hard Enough, You Can See Our Future: Selections of Contemporary South African Art from the Nando’s Art Collection” has been extended through Sunday, Oct. 22, at the African American Museum, Dallas in historic Fair Park. Culled from one of the world’s largest collections of contemporary South African art and featuring 62 pieces from 55 artists, the exhibit will run through the end of the State Fair of Texas and remain free of charge to all visitors.
From a continent with a rich and dynamic art scene, some of the must-see works are drawn from the collection’s strength in portraiture, landscape, cityscapes and abstraction.
Several of the featured artists on display have received recent accolades:
- Zanele Muholi is a ground-breaking Black queer photographer with a current retrospective in Paris at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie.
- Represented by the Stevenson gallery in South Africa and David Zwirner in New York City and London, Portia Zvahera is a rising star with works featured at the 59th Venice Biennale.
- A 35-year survey exhibition from William Kentridge, “In Praise of Shadows” is currently on display at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
- Recently profiled by CNN, Mbongeni Buthelezi known for his innovative work created from melted plastic is an artist activist who collects and repurposes litter into breathtaking portraits.
Other notable artists on view include David Goldblatt, Claudette Schreuders, Kagiso Patrick Mautloa, Igshaan Adams, Stephen Hobbs, Vivien Kohler, Anastasia Pather, Penny Siopis, Clyde van den Berg and Samson Mnisi. Many of the young and emerging artists are showing work in North America for the first time.
“Our supporters, our visitors and our community have rarely witnessed an exhibit that so exquisitely tells the stories of the diverse cultural and political experience found in Africa,” said Dr. Harry Robinson Jr., president and CEO of the African American Museum, Dallas. “We’ve had very large crowds, and our visitors have warmly embraced the powerful, beautiful and bold messages presented by these talented artists.”
Dick Enthoven, the late-South African businessman, philanthropist, art collector and primary shareholder of the beloved-restaurant group Nando’s, had a passion for supporting South African artists which led him to create the Nando’s Art Collection and feature original works of art in Nando’s restaurants. Enthoven then created the Spier Arts Trust, a nonprofit that continues to collect and support South African artists as well as managing the artworks of the Nando’s Art Collection. Enthoven spent more than two decades building the 25,000+ piece collection from which the exhibit was curated.
Tapped by the Enthoven family to curate the North American debut of exemplary works from the collection never before seen together, Laurie Ann Farrell is one of the most important curators working to showcase artists from Africa and the African Diaspora to the U.S. Farrell served as a curator at The African Center (formerly known as The Museum of African Art) in New York City, an executive director of museums and exhibitions at Savannah College of Art & Design, curator and head of the modern and contemporary art department at the Detroit Institute of Art, and now a Dallas-based independent curator and writer. In November, Farrell will curate a show a part of the Something Else – Off Biennale Cairo.
“It’s an honor of a lifetime to be able to curate an exhibit from such an exemplary collection and bring an impressive range of talent from the African continent to North America,” said Farrell. “While immersed in distinct aesthetics, everyone that visits will experience the universal themes of humanity, love, loss and hope for a better future.”
Administered by the Spier Arts Trust, an initiative promoting emerging Southern African artists called “The Creative Block” offers original and reasonably priced South African artworks that visitors may buy and add to their personal collections while supporting artists early on in their careers. Artists who are invited to join the program are given blank blocks to create new works. The Spier Arts Trust team then mentor these artists and acquire selected blocks. Some of these Creative Blocks end up in the Nando’s Art Collection and others are made available for purchase. A broad array of Creative Blocks are being offered at the African American Museum and are displayed near the museum shop.
“In addition to fried food favorites, music, livestock and carnival rides, the estimated 2.5 million visitors to this year’s State Fair of Texas will also be able to experience a sampling of some of the best South African contemporary art in the world,” added Dr. Robinson.
HOURS: From now through Sept. 28, the African American Museum, Dallas will be open Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. From Sept. 29-Oct. 22 during the State Fair of Texas, the Museum will be open daily from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and will open at 3 p.m. on Oct. 7 after the Texas/OU game.
NOTE: During the State Fair of Texas run, visitors must purchase State Fair admission to gain access to the museum.
About the Nando’s Art Collection
Through the vision of the late South African businessman Dick Enthoven, Nando’s started collecting art in partnership with arts consultancy Spier Arts Trust in 2001 and has since become owner of one of the world’s largest collections of Southern African contemporary art and design. The collection is uniquely displayed in Nando’s restaurants globally, creating bespoke settings, providing access to millions of people, many of whom will never visit an art gallery, or museum. Visitors to Nando’s custom-designed restaurants also have the opportunity to see firsthand permanent artwork from the 25,000+ piece collection that is featured prominently at each location.
About the African American Museum, Dallas
The African American Museum, Dallas was founded in 1974 as a part of Bishop College. The Museum has operated independently since 1979. For more than 40 years, the African American Museum has stood as a cultural beacon in Dallas and the Southwestern United States. Located in Dallas’ historic Fair Park, the African American Museum is the only museum in the Southwestern United States devoted to the collection, preservation and display of African American artistic, cultural and historical materials that relate to the African American experience. The African American Museum incorporates a wide variety of visual art forms and historical documents that portray the African American experience in the United States, Southwest, and Dallas. The Museum has a small, but rich collection of African art, African American fine art and one of the largest African American folk-art collections in the United States. Learn more at
About Nando’s PERi-PERi
After making its 1987 debut in Johannesburg, South Africa, Nando’s has spread its flame to legions of fans in 24 countries on five continents who can’t resist the allure of succulent PERi-PERi chicken that’s been marinated for 24 hours, flame-grilled to perfection, and basted to their preferred flavor and spice. The restaurant is equally renowned for its spicy PERi-PERi – the Bird’s Eye Chili Pepper that indigenous Africans introduced to the Portuguese centuries ago.
Nando’s PERi-PERi entered the US market in 2008 with the opening of its first location in Washington, D.C., and now operates nearly 50 restaurants in and around Virginia, Maryland, Washington, and Chicago. For more information, visit
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
