Artist Boitumelo Diseko owns B Artworks Gallery in the heart of trendy Maboneng

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

Her story is a remarkable journey of a childhood dream of one day owning a gallery. Growing up in Rustenburg, Boitumelo Diseko noticed that there was not a single gallery in that part of the country and also that black people tended to avoid going to galleries to view art works and those with big pockets even buy art.

“For come reason black people in that area tended to think that visiting art galleries is something that is done by those with big pockets, mostly white people, and yet art is in fact for everyone.

While in Grade three I decided that one day I was going to own an art gallery. This is because I have always been interested in art and I started drawing while I was in Grade Three,” Diseko told CITYLIFE/AERTS in an interview this week at the Main Change Building in Maboneng where her gallery B Art Works is situated on the third floor of the building.

The gallery opened last year in October and this is important development in the area because whereas in the past Maboneng, which breams with artistic energy, had a number of galleries situated there. But in recent years galleries moved out of the area to other art spaces, such as Victoria Yards robbing the area of an artistic vive that has always been associated with this area.

However with B Art Works having move into the space art collectors now have a gallery that showcases art works by leading contemporary artists. When I spoke to Diseko on Wednesday, April 18, 2023, there was a group exhibition that is running till the end of April. The exhibition showcases the works of six artists, including Diseko’s works that are being showcased along with works of other artists.

“WE are planning to have regular exhibition openings every few months and expose the works of contemporary artists to collectors. Since we opened we have attracted quite a number of people, such as collectors looking for fresh talent, the youth and generally everyone interested in South Africa art. So far the journey has been fulfilling as one is doing something that I love. And off course some people feel that there is no money in art. But the reality is that there is. It is just that to run an art business such as a gallery, one needs to work hard and have a thick skin. So fare business has been good,” she told me.

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As it is Diseko, has the distinction of being one of the youngest gallery owners in South Africa. And she comes well prepared for this terrain as she in fact has close to a decade of experience in visual arts, to take B Artworks Gallery to the next level.

The fact is in Johannesburg’s inner city lies an exclusive art gallery, housing independent, pan-African contemporary artists, known to the locals as ‘Inspirational art space’. To the outsider it’s just a 1970’s light industrial building in the Maboneng Precinct has been converted into a mixed-use building until one crosses the threshold and sees the gem of the building which is B Artworks Gallery.

B Artworks Gallery is a beautiful, necessary, and inspirational space that is situated in the heart of the arts in Maboneng, Johannesburg. As soon as you enter you are welcomed by this awe-striking mural depicting the essence of servant leadership, inspirational artwork by the Founder Boitumelo Diseko’s “A Woman After God’s Own Heart” you must see it to feel it. B Artworks Gallery is a mixed-use creative hub in Johannesburg’s urban neighbourhood. The premises consists of artists’ studio, a gallery offering visitors a range of events. It is a unique environment for the city’s creative community to develop and share ideas and engage in multiple innovative experiences in one venue.

B Artworks Gallery is an art business that tells stories through art. Everything that they do is to inspire people to be Artworks that God has created them to be. B Artworks Gallery is an intimate gallery with some high quality and unique artworks by local South African artists and international artists. Added perk that you get to talk to one of the artists/owner. A must see in Maboneng. The viewer will be spiritually refreshed and inspired by the artworks and Boitumelo’s courage to stand and be counted as an art curator, artist, gallerist, and entrepreneur in a industry that is dominated by those who do not look like her. Her story has got God written all over it! Living up to their mission of ” aspire to inspire and make a difference.”