David Nthubu Koloane

The use of artworks for public education by the National Roads Safety Organisation convinced Koloane of the role of art in communication. Together with Louis Maqubhela he visited art galleries in Johannesburg to learn more. In 1972 Maqhubela left South Africa to pursue an art career in London. He sent Koloane to the studio of Johannesburg artist, Bill Ainslie, to continue training from 1974-1977. 

In 1977 Koloane co-founded the Federated Union of Black Artists (FUBA) Gallery and became its first curator. This was the first art gallery in Johannesburg to provide a space for black artists. Koloane participated in the Thupelo Workshops in Johannesburg and the Triangle Artists Workshop in New York. In 1985 he was awarded a Diploma in Museum Studies from the University of London and in 1988 he was one of the judges on the Cape Town Triennial panel. He exhibited in SA, USA, England, Botswana and Zimbabwe. His partnership with the London art collector Robert Loder led to the establishment of the Bag Factory Studios. These promoted the development of young artists by providing them with a work space and opportunity to learn from established artists.

David Koloane as an art critic has published articles in local and international journals. He lectured in London and several American universities and played the role of external examiner for South African universities.

David Koloane’s art, both its content and expressive method is rooted in his apartheid urban socio-political context.

Exhibitions: 

1975: Nedbank Gallery, Johannesburg (two-person exhibition with Michael Zondi).

1978: Johannesburg (Black Expo Exhibition).

1979: Bill Ainslie Studios, Johannesburg (group). Gallery 21 (solo).

1982: National Museum arid Art Gallery, Gaborone, Botswana (Art Toward Social Development An Exhibition of SA Art). UZ (African Arts Festival).

1983: New York, USA (Triangle Artists Workshop Exhibition).

1984: London, UK (Stockwell Open Studios). New York, USA (Triangle Artists Workshop Exhibition). London, UK (Stockwell Open Studios).

1985: FUBA (USSALEP””FUBA Workshop exhibition). FUBA (two-person exhibition with Ben Nsusha). London, UK (Stockwell Open Studios). Africana Museum in Progress, Johannesburg (Tributaries).

1986: WITS (Thupelo Workshop Exhibition). Academy Art Gallery, Paris, France (Eleven Contemporary Black SA Artists). UNISA (Portraits ”” group). Alliance Francaise, Pretoria (Historical Perspective of Black Art in SA). London, UK (Triangle Artists in London). FUBA

1987: JAG (Vita Art Now). SA-tour (Standard Bank National Drawing Competition). Johannesburg Art Foundation; NSA, Durban; National Museum and Art Gallery, Gaborone, Botswana (Thupelo Workshop Exhibition).

1988: National Gallery, Harare, Zimbabwe (Pachepamwe Workshop Exhibition).

Awards: 1983: British Council Scholarship.

Collections: BMW, Germany; Johannesburg Art Foundation; Mobil Oil (SA) Cape Town; National Museum and Art Gallery, Gaborone, Botswana; Sached Trust, Johannesburg; Triangle Artists Workshop Collection; UZ.