Sthenjwa Luthuli to Open First Institutional Solo Exhibition in Cape Town

Unit are delighted to announce the first institutional solo exhibition of South African artist Sthenjwa Luthuli. Umkhangu/Birthmark will open at Cape Town’s Norval Foundation on 11 September 2025.

In the manner of a retrospective, Umkhangu/Birthmark brings together a new body of work alongside key pieces from the artist’s monumental ouevre, showcasing the development of his intricate pattern making and the deepening of its spiritual dimension over the past decade.

Through rhythmic pattern, symbolism, and intimate mark-making, Luthuli renders the body as a vessel of inherited knowledge; resisting erasure and reconnecting with suppressed histories and sacred traditions.

The title of the exhibition, Umkhangu – translated from isiZulu as “birthmark” – evokes both physical and metaphysical meanings. Within African cosmologies, a birthmark may signal ancestral presence, a spiritual guide, or a unique destiny. Luthuli reclaims this symbolism as a powerful metaphor for belonging, legacy, and inner transformation.

Caroline Greyline, Director of the Norval Foundation, confirms in a statement, “We are incredibly pleased to showcase Sthenjwa Luthuli’s work at our institution, bringing a taste of Kwazulu Natal to Cape Town. I have no doubt visitors will be enthralled by Luthuli’s masterful and intricate wood carvings  as well as his expressive use of colour.”

Born in KwaZulu-Natal in 1991, Luthuli’s self-taught practice has earned recognition for its meticulous craftsmanship and spiritual depth. Through intricately carved wood reliefs and richly textured prints, Luthuli explores themes of memory, cultural identity, and African spiritualism – bridging the personal and ancestral in ways that are both poetic and profoundly moving. In 2025, Unit were proud to announce his work For the Life of a Child (2021) was acquired by The Brooklyn Museum, NY, USA.

His previous solo exhibitions at Unit, Ifumbatho (2021) and Inzalo Ye Langa: Birthplace of the Sun (2023) explored the idea that many younger generations in South Africa and other nations on the continent has become detached from their ancestral connections due to the effects of colonialism and Western educational values. As such, Luthuli has taken it upon himself to research African history, teach himself about ancient African customs and spiritual practices and translate these messages to wider audiences through his work. For example, the circular patterns of colour in each artwork are inspired by traditional healing methods. African healers often use colourful beads in their process, using different colour formations to treat different issues. A beaded necklace in particular colours can be used to chase away bad spirits, to ease ailments or simply to bring luck to the wearer.

Situated in the Tokai region of Cape Town, the Norval Foundation stands as a testament to the rich tapestry of modern and contemporary art from the African continent and its diaspora. Since its inception in 2018, this distinguished art museum serves as a vibrant nexus for showcasing a dynamic array of artworks, encompassing painting, photography, sculpture, and media art, both historical and contemporary.