16 November 2026 @ 9:00 am – 14 February 2027 @ 5:00 pm
South African art has always been a powerful space for telling stories that history sometimes overlooks. From questions of identity and belonging to spirituality, heritage and the complexities of modern life, artists continue to challenge how we see ourselves and the world around us.
This November, three creative voices connected by friendship, brotherhood and a shared artistic journey are bringing those conversations into the gallery space.
My Loves Summer, opening at Gallery MOMO, on 16 November 2026, brings together Fhatuwani Mukheli, Justice Mukheli and Sthu Manaka for their first group exhibition in a gallery setting. Running until 14 February 2027, the exhibition explores identity, faith, memory and tenderness through three distinct artistic perspectives.
But beyond the paintings and photographs, there is a bigger story: what happens when artists create space for Black stories to be seen, questioned and celebrated on their own terms?
Reclaiming the Space for Black Stories
For Fhatuwani Mukheli, art becomes an opportunity to challenge the historical representation of Black people in traditional painting.
Drawing inspiration from Renaissance art, his work places Black figures within compositions historically dominated by European subjects. Instead of focusing on hardship or struggle, his paintings present people resting, gathering and simply existing with dignity.
Working with monochromatic black oil on Belgian linen, Mukheli creates pieces that sit somewhere between painting and charcoal drawing. His background in photography, advertising and graffiti influences his approach to composition, light and scale.
His connection to Soweto and Venda also plays an important role, particularly memories of family gatherings and December visits to his grandfather’s home.
His message is particularly powerful for a generation still navigating questions of representation and belonging.
“Black people deserve peace, relaxation, opulence, royalty and joy,” .
says Mukheli
It is a reminder that Black stories do not always have to centre on survival. They can also celebrate rest, beauty, abundance and the freedom to exist without explanation.
Where Spirituality Meets Uncomfortable Questions
Justice Mukheli takes the conversation in another direction, exploring the relationship between ancestral spirituality and Christianity through photography.
His photographic series, I Heard There Are Rivers in the Sky, brings together new works created in Lagos and earlier photographs taken in South Africa.
Water becomes a central visual language, connecting different spiritual traditions. Within ubungoma, it can represent a place of encounter with ancestors, while Christianity associates water with baptism, cleansing and renewal.
Rather than presenting these belief systems as opposing forces that need to be reconciled, Justice invites audiences to sit with the questions.
His work reflects his own journey of growing up in a Christian environment before encountering other spiritual perspectives.
“I am not asking anyone to pick a side. I am asking them to stand inside the question with me,” .
he explains
For young South Africans navigating culture, religion, family expectations and personal identity, this exploration offers an opportunity to reflect on the complicated relationship between inherited beliefs and individual discovery.
The Power of Being Held
Sthu Manaka introduces a new body of work titled Lost Boys, marking a shift in his artistic direction.
Moving away from the eye imagery associated with his earlier work, Manaka explores vulnerability, faith and the unseen support that carries people through life’s difficult and beautiful moments.
One of the key works, Morwa Waka, features a hand reaching towards a kneeling figure, suggesting comfort, protection and reassurance.
Inspired by the emotional atmosphere of Nduduzo Makhathini‘s song At Your Feet, Oh Lord, the work explores the idea that support can exist even when we cannot physically see it.
Manaka describes the collection as a reminder that people are never entirely alone, even during moments of uncertainty.
His willingness to experiment with new materials, textures and techniques also reflects a creative process built around taking risks rather than repeating what audiences already recognise.
Friendship, Independence and the Meaning of Love
The connection between these three artists extends beyond their individual practices. Through My Loves Studio, they have built a creative relationship rooted in friendship, encouragement and shared experiences.
Yet My Loves Summer is not about making three artists look the same. Its strength lies in allowing their differences to exist together.
Fhatuwani explores Black representation and dignity. Justice examines spirituality and inherited beliefs. Sthu considers vulnerability and the unseen forms of care that sustain people.
Together, they offer a broader reflection on love as something that extends beyond romance. It can be found in family, heritage, faith, friendship and the simple act of allowing someone else to be fully themselves.
For Johannesburg’s creative community, the exhibition is also an opportunity to engage with contemporary South African art through perspectives that feel deeply connected to everyday experiences.
My Loves Summer opens at Gallery MOMO on 16 November 2026 and runs until 14 February 2027.
Sometimes, the most powerful artistic statement is not about changing how people see the world, but reminding them to look more carefully at the people already in it.