Artist Proof Studio, a soaring, resilient art education ‘experiment’ now changing the lives of young artists

Strauss &Co is host to an exhibition of art produced by alumni, current students and invited master printers. Hurry up and register to buy as APS 35 Years: Celebrating a Legacy of Printmaking exhibition, comes down on April 17, 2026.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

The evolution of this prestigious Johannesburg based independent art school can be traced back to 1991. Today,it is currently a leading tertiary institution specialising in printmaking, and some of its alumni, are leading visual voices in the contemporary art scene in South Africa.

Leading in alternative art education, the genesis of this school is as a result of the imagination of two art visionaries,’ whose desire was to see a new crop of art practitioners, get an opportunity to receive valuable and practical art education. That vision has been achieved, as the institution’s past graduates form a huge part of those practising art professionally today in South Africa. In fact, Artist Proof Studio, since its founding 35 years ago, has become a prestigious art school, and a significant player in the art education ecosystem in the country, plugging an important gap in the art education sphere.

And rightly so, APS’ phenomenal success is currently being celebrated through an exhibition titled APS 35 Years: Celebrating a Legacy of Printmaking, hosted online at Strauss &Co till April 17, 2026, a platform that offers collectors the opportunity to collect art of high quality, produced over a long period of time, by individual artists that have come through the doors of APS, as well as emerging artists and invited art masters.

However, the 200 graduate artists that have been selected to exhibit in this exhibition, are a small part of the over 400 that have since graduated from the Houghton, Johannesburg, based institution.

Artist Proof Studio’s founding is a study in how to turn a dream into reality, an experiment into a viable, practical idea that changes the people’s life, as well as the sector in which it is situated. It seems proper therefore, to describe Artist Proof Studio, as a soaring, resilient art education ‘experiment’ now changing the lives of young artists.

APS was founded because Kim and Nhlanhla noticed that there was abundant talent within the black community, however they were restrained from excelling due to exclusionary practices of the then apartheid government when it came to public art schools at universities around the country. There were limited chances for black learners to be admitted at such schools due to the prevailing policies of the time, which prioritised white learners of black learners. However it its needs is as important today as it was then as not everyone wishing to pursue tertiary art education at public universities is able to do so due to limited places and a stringent selection policies of universitiesthat tend to emphasise a high Matric pass rate more than experience and natural talent prevalent in formerly disadvantaged South African society.

From what could be described as an espistemic experiment, an idea that morphed into a major role player in the art ecosystem, Art Proof Studio today,plays a major role in ushering young people into the world of professional art practice as printmakers.

The Artist Proof Studio’s milestone exhibition, is no ordinary exhibition. It can be read as a visual narrative of how academic Kim Berman, and the late artist Nhlanhla Xaba, conceived what at the time, may have been an art education experiment, a social engineering that sought to disrupt who gets to go to art school and, even more importantly, who gets to be excluded and why.

It is safe therefore, to suggest that had Artist Proof Studio not been founded, a good number of talented artists, would not be who they have become today in South Africa –artists enjoying global attention because of their art.

Big names in the art world today, such as Blessing Ngobeni, Bambo Sibiya, Mongezi Ncaphayi, Philimon Hlungwani and Makgabo Heleni Sebidi, to name but just a few, have come through the learning doors of Artist Proof Studio, with Sebidi and Hlungwani for example, being the founding artists of this famous art school, which specialises in print making education.

“This exhibition is a way of telling the story of Artist Proof Studio, its journey from the time when it was started by Professor Kim Berman and Nhanhla Xaba, to what it has become today. It is a way of honouring its alumni, who today enjoy success and high profile on the art scene. Names such as Mongezi Ncaphayi, Bambo Sibiya, Heleni Sebidi and Philimon Hlungwani, are huge on the contemporary art scene. In this exhibition, we are also showcasing their work alongside that of some of our recent graduates, as well as the work of current students and invited art masters,”Nathi Simelane, the Chief Operation Officer of APS told CITYLIFE/ARTS in an interview.

He added that in the exhibition, there is another section, which houses works that have been created through collaboration by print masters with current students, a result of a series of workshops co-ordinated by none other than Berman that took five weeks.

“Top artists such as William Kentridge, Shannon Diedericks, Mary Sibande, Norman Katherine and Dianne Victor, to name just a few, are also showing in this section,”Simelane revealed.

Simelane’s journey of how after graduating in fine art at University of Johannesburg, in 2011, is as interesting as the journey travelled by the students at APS.

“I graduated from art school at UJ in 2011, and Kim, who was my lecturer then approached me, telling me that there was an opening at APS, and if interested, I could apply. I got the job, and started as an intern, working on a special project, an art campaign for Sisonke Gender Links. The campaign used art as a medium as a vehicle for the campaign.

However it was in 2015 when he was elevated to special projects manager when the position became vacant. His skills in budgets, corporate commissions and marketing, which he had learned as an intern came in hand.

He currently occupies the position of Chief Operating Officer of APS, a position at the centre of making sure that the engine of APS runs smoothly.

This makes Simelane to stand out as one of a few artists who are able to transition from working in the studio into administration, a responsibility a lot of artists often find daunting.

“It is for that reason that in 2015 Artist Proof Studio introduced a course to students in their fourth year, which teaches the students other skills such as in marketing, law as it pertains to copyright and agreements, budgets and proposal writing,” Simelane said.

He added that in 2026, for sustainability purposes, APS made a major shift. Instead of solely relying on funding, the institution introduced other income generating projects, such as art sales and corporate commissions.

“For example, APS participates in three art fairs in the country –the Cape Town Investec Art Fair, Latitudes Online and FNB Art Joburg, where we also represent our alumni,” said Simelane.

Of course the current exhibition at Strauss &Co, which is currently open to collectors, coming down on April 17, 2026, is another way of generating income to add to the kit to cover some of APS’ operation costs.

Artist Proof Studio at 35: A call to invest in South Africa’s printmaking future

At a moment when arts funding is under increasing strain, Artist Proof Studio (APS) is therefore rightly marking its 35th anniversary not only with celebration, but with urgency.

Therefore this exhibition isa partnership with Strauss & Co, presenting this landmark exhibition and timed online sale that directly supports its education programme – one of the most vital pipelines for emerging printmaking talent in South Africa.

This is not simply an exhibition. It is a call to action.

Investing in education, sustaining a sector

For over three decades, APS has provided subsidised, high-quality arts education to young artists – many of whom would otherwise have no access to formal training. Each year, approximately 100 students benefit from its intensive programmes, which combine technical mastery with critical thinking and professional development.

These programmes are sustained through a fragile mix of philanthropy, corporate sponsorship and artwork sales. Every artwork bought contributes directly to:

●      Student bursaries and scholarships

● Studio access and materials

●The continuation of a proven, alternative arts education model

Supporting this sale means investing in the next generation of South African artists – future cultural leaders whose work will shape the country’s creative identity.

Printmaking in the contemporary market

Printmaking occupies a unique and often undervalued position within the contemporary art market. Compared to painting and sculpture, prints offer:

● Greater accessibility for new collectors

● Lower price points with high artistic and technical value

●The ability to generate income across editions, supporting artists more sustainably

As digital platforms and online auctions grow, printmaking is increasingly recognised as a viable and democratic entry point into collecting – expanding the market while supporting artist livelihoods.

The APS online sale, running alongside the exhibition, demonstrates how digital sales can function as a critical economic tool – connecting artists to broader audiences while generating essential income streams.

Building a sustainable arts ecosystem

At its core, APS represents a holistic approach to sustainability in the arts:

●      Education – training and mentorship

●      Production – access to professional print facilities

●      Market access – exhibitions and sales platforms

●      Community – collaboration across generations of artists

As co-founder Berman has long emphasised, the studio is not only about making prints – it is about building futures.

A timely opportunity to support

The anniversary exhibition at Strauss & Co’s Houghton space brings together works by APS alumni and emerging artists, offering collectors a rare opportunity to acquire museum-quality prints while directly supporting arts education.

A timed online auction runs until 17 April, with proceeds contributing to APS’s ongoing programmes.

In a constrained economic climate, the sustainability of institutions like APS depends on active participation – from collectors, corporates, and the public alike.

Supporting this initiative is not just about acquiring art.
It is about sustaining a system that makes art possible.

You can register to browse and buy art at the exhibition on the following link:

●Exhibition: Artist Proof Studio at 35

●Live Auction website: www.straussart.co.za/auctions/details/556-17-apr-2026

●Venue: Strauss & Co, 89 Central Street, Houghton, Johannesburg

●Open: Monday – Friday, 09:00–16:00

●Online sale: Live until 17 April

●      Websites: www.straussart.co.za | www.artistproofstudio.co.za

Walk about Details

Artist Proof Studio, in partnership with Strauss & Co, warmly invites you to a Friends & Collectors Walkabout in the final week of the exhibition. Join us for a relaxed conversation, learning and looking, as we gather over tea and engage more deeply with the works on the exhibition. Guided by Kim Berman and Nathi Simelane this walkabout offers a unique opportunity to gain insight into printmaking techniques, the stories behind the works and explore what makes printmaking such a dynamic and accessible medium for collectors. Art specialist Wilhelm van Rensburg will share insights of the value of collecting and investing in printmaking.APS 35 Years: Celebrating a Legacy of Printmaking,walkabout is on April 15, 2026 at Strauss &Co, 89 Central Street, Houghton, starting 4pm -530pm.