Curriculum Vitae
Sharlene Khan
Publications on the Artist
Academic Qualifications
2011 - 2015
PHD (Arts)
Goldsmiths, University of London, UK
Graduation date: 31 March 2015
Research Thesis: Postcolonial Masquerading: A Critical Analysis of the Masquerading Strategies of South African Visual Artists Anton Kannemeyer, Tracey Rose, Senzeni Marasela, Nandipha Mntambo and Mary Sibande
Exhibition: Nervous Conditions
2003 - 2006
M.A. (Fine Art) Coursework
University of the Witwatersrand, RSA
Coursework: Art Critical Writing (Distinction – Certificate of Merit)
The Construction of Contemporary South African Art
Research Report: A Critical Analysis of the Iconography of Six HIV/Aids Murals from Durban and Johannesburg, in terms of gender, race and class.
Exhibition: Walking the Line
1999 - 2002
M.A. (Fine Art)
University of Durban-Westville, RSA
Research Thesis: A Critical Analysis of the Depiction of Women in Murals in KwaZulu-Natal
Exhibition: Durban at Work (Distinction)
1995 - 1998
B.A. (Fine Art)
University of Durban-Westville, RSA
5 Distinctions including ‘As’ for both majors Painting and Art History IV; 6 ‘B’ Symbols; 8 Certificates of Merit (History of Art I, Object Drawing, Theory of Art I, Indian Philosophy I, Painting I, Drawing from Life I, Drawing from Life II, Theory of Art III)
1990 - 1994
New West Secondary, RSA
Grade 8 – 12: Matric Exemption (A-Aggregate, 3 distinctions)
Professional Achievements
Workshops/Residencies
2018 African Humanities Post-doctoral Fellowship Residency, University of Ibadan, Nigeria (January-March)
2017 Three-week residency at Cite des Arts, Paris, France, 10 November – 10 December
2015 Gyeonggi Cultural Centre Residency, Gyeonggi, South Korea, 22 June –21 July
2014 Khoj/Africa Art Centre Residency, Delhi, India, 16 October – 15 November
pARTage International Artists Workshop, Mauritius, 6 – 19 June
2009 Rockefeller Bellagio Centre Creative Arts Residency, Italy. 9 July – 6 August
2005 Nouison International Residency Programme, Pujols, France, 24 September – 4 November
2003 Thupelo International Workshop, Cape Town, South Africa, 6 – 21 February
International Residency, Townhouse Gallery, Cairo, Egypt, 15 September – 5 November
2002 Bag Factory (Fordsburg Artists Studios) International Residency Programme, Johannesburg, South Africa, February-April
Caversham Press Residency Programme – ‘Rituals’, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 1-21
Solo Exhibitions
2018
When the moon waxes red, African Feminisms Conference (Afems 2018) Rhodes University Fine Art Department, Makhanda, 27-29 September
2016
When the moon waxes red, Studiengalerie, Goethe Universitat-Frankfurt, Germany, 28-30 September
When the moon waxes red, Kunsthalle Bremen, Bremen, Germany, 19 February-1 May
2015
Post-apartheid Guernica and Daebu Lullaby (Residency exhibition), Gyeonggi Cultural Centre, Gyeonggi, South Korea, 17 July
Nervous Conditions, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK, 23 January
2013
Nervous Conditions, I Make Art, No Place, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK, 5 December
2011
Other Stories, Gallery MOMO, Johannesburg, South Africa, 31 March-30 April
2009
Other Stories, Right on the Rim Gallery, Arts on Main, Johannesburg, South Africa, 12 September-11 October
(B)lack and What I look like, What I feel like, Polokwane Art Museum, Polokwane, 26 March-15 May
2008
(B)lack, Association for the Visual Arts (AVA) Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, 10-23 March
What I look like, What I feel like, Gallery MOMO, Johannesburg, South Africa, 4-29 September
2007
(B)lack, KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts (KZNSA), Durban, South Africa, 2-21 October (catalogue)
Walking the Line, BAT Centre, Durban, South Africa, 5 – 27 October
2006
Previously Disadvantaged, Gallery MOMO, Johannesburg, South Africa, 17 August – 3 September (catalogue)
2004
Walking the Line, University of Witwatersrand Downstairs Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa, 3 September (catalogue)
2003
Two for One Rand, Goethe Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa, 25 November-11 December
2001
Durban at Work, Master’s degree work, Kwa-Muhle Museum, Durban, South Africa, April-June
Group Exhibitions
2022
– When the moon waxes and When the moon wanes, 5th Casablanca Biennale, So Art Gallery, Casablanca,
Morocco, 18 November-17 December 2022, Curated by Selma Naguib
2021-2022
– Post-Apartheid Guernica – Come Home: A Call, Live Performance by Sharlene Khan, Mokgabudi Amos
Letsoalo, Litho Nqai and Mandlakazi Zilwa, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa, 21 October
2022
– Post-Apartheid Guernica, Sharlene Khan and Mokgabudi Amos Letsoalo, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa, 10 October 2021 – 30 January 2022
2020
– Now-Now, Gallery 114, Curator: James Reed, Oregon, USA, 5-29 November, Curator: James Reed (catalogue)
– New World Order, Turbine Art Fair, 27 August – 2 September, Curator: Johan Thom
– Embodying Hir-Self, Latitudes Art Fair Online, Curator: Beathur Mgoza Baker, 17 August – September
2019
– Present Passing: South by Southeast, Osage Gallery, Hong Kong, 24 March-15 June, Curators: Patrick D. Flores and Natasha Becker (catalogue)
2018
– Re-membering: Memory, Intimacy, Archive, Jordache Ellapen, Reshma Chhiba and Sharlene Khan, Michaelis Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, 22 June-25 July
– Re-membering: Memory, Intimacy, Archive, Jordache Ellapen and Sharlene Khan, Point of Order Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa, 5-18 April
2017
– When the moon waxes red, Thessaloniki Biennale, State Museum of Contemporary Art, Greece, 30 September-
14 January 2018
– Looking after Freedom, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 7-26 September, Curators: Nkule Mabaso and Rael Salley
– Re-membering: Memory, Intimacy, Archive, Jordache Ellapen, Reshma Chhiba and Sharlene Khan, KZNSA Gallery, Durban, South Africa, 15 August-3 September
– Looking after Freedom, Michaelis Galleries, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, 23 May-23
June, Curators: Nkule Mabaso and Rael Salley
2016
– Foundations and Futures – Celebrating 25 Years, Bag Factory (Fordsburg Artist) Studios, 28 October-12 December, Curator: Aysha Waja
– Reasons and its Discontents, His Majesty’s Asylum, Pop-up Gallery – 19 Hill Street, Makhanda, South Africa, 30 June-5 July, Curators: Fouad Asfour and Sharlene Khan
2015
– Thupelo 30 Year Exhibtion/Auction, Provinence Auction House, Cape Town, South Africa, 12 November, Curator: Jill Trappler
– Two-person show with Mirielle Jefferson, Spring/break Art Show, New York, USA, 3-8 March, Curator: Natasha Becker
2014
– Literary, Polokwane Art Museum, Polokwane, South Africa, 10 September-15 October, Curator: Amos Letsoalo
– ARTchipelago Artists Exhibition, Institut Francais Maurice, Mauritius, 20 June-7 July, Curator: Tiffany Thompson
2013
– Rememory, William Goodenough College, London, UK, 25 February-3 March, Curators: Sharlene Khan, Fouad Asfour and Imara Rolston
2012
– She Said No – a No-Peformance, Goldsmiths Art Department, London, UK, 11 December
– Happily Never After, AVA Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, 2-27 July, Curator: Sharlene Khan
– Staff/Stuff, Unisa Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa, 19 June-6 July, Curator: Lawrence Lemaoana
2011
– It’s all Chinese to Me – How Abstract Can One Be?, After the Butcher, Berlin, Germany, 17 June-7 August, Curator: Eva Seufert
– Agter die Berge: The Joburg Fringe Video Berlin, Haus 19, Berlin, Germany, 26 May-11 June, Curators: Claudia Shneider and Christine Gruss
– Figures of Speech, ‘Beyond Languages Project’, Jozi Art Lab, Arts on Main, Johannesburg, South Africa, 25 February-6 March, Curators: Eva Seufert, Fouad Asfour, Claudia Shneider
– Samsara, Tathum Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, 24 February-20 March, Curator: Selvin Naidoo
– Crossing Boundaries: Contemporary Art and Artists from South Africa, The Gallery – Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar, Doha, Qatar, 26 January-5 March, Curators: Jochen Sokoly and Ortrud Mulder (catalogue)
2010
– Samsara, Durban Art Gallery, Durban, South Africa, 26 November-13 February 2011, Curator: Selvin Naidoo
– Nud(g)e, Artspace, Johannesburg, South Africa, 30 May-30 June, Curator: Sotiris Moldovanos
– The New Order Beauty, Palette Art Gallery, Delhi, India, 25 January-28 February, Curator: Vibha Galhotra
2009
– Art from Southern Africa, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH Head Office, Eschborn, Germany, 12 November-February 2010, Curator: Karin Reinprecht
– Bring mir ein Gras vom Rand der Bildebene, Atelier Frankfurt, Germany, 5 June-8 July, Curators: Fouad Asfour and Saul Judd
2008
– Urban Concerns, BildMuseet, Umea, Sweden, 19 January-1 March, Curator: Veronica Wiman
– Gunshot Show, Afrika Cultural Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, 27 January, Curator: Claudia Shneider
– Esikhaleni Spatial Practices, Africa Cultural Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, 14-16 March, Curators: Dead Revolutionaries Club and Claudia Shneider
– Living Legacy, Kizo Gallery, Durban, South Africa, 1-30 September, Curators: Bongi Bengu and Nathi Gumede. (catalogue)
– Modern Fabrics, Bag Factory Artist’s Studios, Johannesburg, South Africa, 22 September-17 October, Curator: Nontobeka Ntombela
– Bring mir ein Gras vom Rand der Bildebene, Dioptic GmbH Weinheim, Germany, 17 October-30 March, Curator: Fouad Asfour and Dioptic GmbH
2007
-The Hourglass Project: Personal Vocabulary, House Museum and Resource Centre of African American Art, Atlanta, USA, 15 July-9 September, Curator: Karen Comer Lowe. (catalogue)
– Gunshot Show, Biba Gallery, Smithfield, South Africa, 15 December-25 January, Curator: Claudia Shneider
2006
– MTN New Contemporaries, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa, 21 May-25 June, Curator: Khwezi Gule (catalogue)
– Les Arts De La Coexistence?, Alliance Francaise, Paris, France, 17-20 January
– Les Arts De La Coexistence?, Les Arts Deniers, Paris, France, 15 February-30 March
2005
– Feb Group Show International 2005, Bayer ABS Limited Gallery, Gujerat, India, February-March, Curator: Vinod Patel and Alok Bal (catalogue)
– Take Me to the River, Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria, South Africa, 25 May-3 July, Curator: Vivienne Lassman (catalogue)
– Les Arts De La Coexistence?, Migrationculturelles, Bordeaux, France, 21 September-22 October, Curator: Bruce Clark (catalogue)
– Les Arts De La Coexistence?, St. Eugene Crypt, Biarritz, France, 17 November-4 December
– South African Artists on Residency, Mairie Chateau, Pujols, France, 3-8 December
2004
– The ID of South African Artists, Fortis Circus Theatre, Scheveningen, Holland, April, Curators: Janine Van Den Ende, William Wells, Sharlene Khan (catalogue)
– Community (Re)Production, Gallery Ancienne Couronne, Biel-Bienne, Switzerland, 15 May, Curator: Hubert Dechant
– 10 Years, 100 Artists, Bell-Roberts Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, 8-23 December
2003
– Thupelo International Workshop Exhibition, South African National Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, February
– Women’s Day Exhibition, Durban Art Gallery, Durban, South Africa, 7-22 August, Curator: Phumzile Dlamini (catalogue)
– Open Studio, Townhouse Gallery, Cairo, Egypt, 2-7 November
2002
– State of Being, Fordsburg Artists’ Studios, Johanneburg, South Africa, April (catalogue)
– Freedom -1001 Miniatures, Spaza Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa, 27 April, Curator: Andrew Lindsay
– Mail Art, Minds-I Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa, June-July
– Heritage Day Exhibition, Durban Art Gallery, Durban, South Africa, September-October, Curator: Pat Khoza (catalogue)
2001
– Unmasked, Crart Rd, Durban, South Africa, March-April, Curator: Gabi Ngcobo
– Ethwekeni, Bat Centre, Durban, South Africa, May-June, Curator: Gabi Ngcobo
2000
– Malibongwe Ophezulu, African Art Centre, Durban, South Africa, Curator: Anthea Martin, August
– Heritage Day Exhibition, Durban Art Gallery, Durban, South Africa, September- October, Curators: Pat Khoza and Phumzile Dlamini
1999
– Izikwepha Zethu, Durban Art Gallery, Durban, South Africa, July, Curators: Pat Khoza and Phumzile Dlamini
1998
– 5th Gopio International Visual Arts and Crafts Exhibition, Durban Art Gallery, Durban, South Africa, July-August
Artist Collections
2022 When the moon waxes bought for the Iziko South African National Gallery Collection, Cape Town, South Africa
2022 When the moon waxes bought for the Iziko South African National Gallery Collection
2011 1 Painting bought for the Unisa Art Gallery collection, Pretoria, South Africa
2009 1 Painting bought for the Polokwane Art Museum collection, Polokwane, South Africa
2007 2 Paintings bought for JSE collection, Johannesburg, South Africa
3 Paintings bought for Morula collection, Johannesburg, South Africa
2006 4 Drawings bought for ArtBank collection, Johannesburg, South Africa
3 Paintings bought for the Eskom Art collection, Johannesburg, South Africa
2004 2 Paintings bought by private art collectors Joop and Janine Van Den Ende, Holland
2002 3 Paintings in Johannesburg Public Artworks – bought by Emboweni House, Johannesburg, South Africa
2001 8 Paintings in Durban Museums Collections – bought by Kwa-Muhle Museum, Durban, South Africa
Exhibitions Curated
2022
Interiorities, Narrative Enquiry for Social Transformation (NEST) Syyposium exhibition, The Point of Order, 28 September-2 October
2021
Afems 2021 Exhibition (online), co-curated with Nomusa Makhubu, 1-5 November
2020
Tactile Visions-Woven, Turbine Fair Art Special Project (online), 27 August-3 September
2019
Creating from the Epicentres of our Agency, co-curated with Zodwa Tutani for the African Feminism (Afems) Conference, The Point of Order Project Space, Johannesburg, 5-7 September
2018
The Mute Always Speak: A Performative Response and Voice/Over: A Shelley Barry Filmic Retrospective co- curated with Zodwa Tutani, African Feminisms (Afems 2018) Conference, Rhodes University Fine Art Department, Makhanda, 27-29 September
2016
Reasons and its Discontents, His Majesty’s Asylum, Pop-up Gallery – 19 Hill Street, Makhanda, South Africa, Curators: Fouad Asfour and Sharlene Khan, 30 June-5 July
2013
Rememory, William Goodenough College, London, UK, 25 February-3 March, Curators: Sharlene Khan, Fouad Asfour and Imara Rolston
2012
Happily Never After, AVA Gallery, Cape Town, 2-27 July, Curator: Sharlene Khan
2008
Esikhaleni Spatial Practices, 1st Joburg Art Fringe exhibition, Africa Cultural Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, 14-16 March, Official Joburg Art Fair event, Co-curator and co-coordinator (as part of Dead Revolutionaries Club) with Claudia Shneider
2004
The ID of South African Artists Exhibition – Coordinator and co-curator: an exhibition of 108 South African artworks at the Fortis Circus Theatre in Scheveningen, Amsterdam, Holland, December 03 – April 04, Curators: Sharlene Khan, William Wells and Janine van den Ende 10 Years. 100 Artists (editor: Sophie Perryer) – one of 15 curators chosen for the exhibition-in-a-book concept initiated by Bell-Roberts Publishing, Cape Town, South Africa
Publications on the Artsist
2018
– Spencer, L.G.; Ligaga, D. and Musila, G.A. ‘Gender and Popular Imaginaries in Africa’. Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity, pp. Vol. 32(3). pps. 3-9
– Ellapen, J.A. ‘When the Moon Waxes Red: Afro-Asian Intimacies and the Aesthetics of Indenture’, Small Axe 53: July, pps. 94-111
2015
– Ellapen, J.A. From Black to Brown: Race, Diaspora, and Post-Apartheid South Africa. Unpublished dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the degree of Doctor of Philsophy, Indiana University, Indiana
-Adendorff, A. The Princess in the Veld: Curating Liminality in Contemporary Art Production, University of Pretoria, Unpublished thesis for the degree of PhD (Visual Arts), University of Pretoria
2014
– al-Samarai, N.L. ‘Claiming Territory Or: Being a Woman of Colour Artist from the South’ in Asfour, F. and Khan, S. (eds.) I Make Art, Johannesburg: Sharlene Khan, pps. 26-35
– Asfour, F. ‘Some place where there isn’t trouble’ in Asfour, F. and Khan, S. (eds.) I Make Art, Johannesburg: Sharlene Khan, pps. 109-129
– Govinden, B. ‘For Sharlene Khan: Contemplation’ in Asfour, F. and Khan, S. (eds.) I Make Art, Johannesburg: Sharlene Khan, pps. 82-85
– Greslé, Y. ‘When I felt like I just wasn’t being heard’: Sharlene Khan’s Nervous Conditions’ in Asfour, F. and Khan, S. (eds.) I Make Art, Johannesburg: Sharlene Khan, pps. 66-78
– Kiguwa, P. ‘Postcolonial Entanglements: Psycho-Social Readings of Race, Gender and Nation in Sharlene Khan’s Nervous Conditions and No Place’ in Asfour, F. and Khan, S. (eds.) I Make Art, Johannesburg: Sharlene Khan, pps. 90-98
– Van Der Merwe, L. ‘Sacrificial Bodies as Corporeal Articulations of Violence in the Work of South African Female Artists’. Image & Text. No. 24. pps. 08-30
– Pillay, T. The Artistic Practices of Contemporary South African Indian Women Artists: How Race, Class and Gender Affect the Making of Visual Art. Unpublished Masters thesis submitted in fulfillment for the degree of Master of Arts, University of South Africa, Pretoria
2011
– Bambelele, P. ‘Artist Explores Other Stories in Joburg’. Sowetan Live. 18 March
– Saleem, F. ‘South African Artists to Display Work at VCUQ Gallery’. The Peninsula. Doha, Qatar
– Anonymous. ‘Gallery at VCU Qatar Presents ‘Crossing Boundaries: Contemporary Art and Artists from South Africa”.
– Anonymous. ‘Crossing Boundaries. Contemporary Art and Artists from South Africa.’ L’Agenda – Qatar. pp. 48
2010
– Asfour, F. ‘Introduction’ in Asfour, F. (ed.) What I look like, What I feel like, exhibition catalogue, pp.8-9, Johannesburg: Sharlene Khan
– Ligaga, D. ‘Negotiating Identity Through the Gendered and Racialised body of a South African Artist’, in Asfour, F. (ed.) What I look like, What I feel like, exhibition catalogue, pp.26-36, Johannesburg: Sharlene Khan
– Tadjo, V. ‘Being the Subject. Sharlene Khan interviewed by Veronique Tadjo’, in Asfour, F. (ed.) What I look like, What I feel like, exhibition catalogue, pp.12-18, Johannesburg: Sharlene Khan
2009
– NY Arts. ‘Social Masquerade – Sharlene Khan’, Summer Voices 2009, April, USA
2008
– Kumalo-Valentine, Z. ‘Painter with Purpose: Sharlene Khan’, Marie Claire, March, pp.127, South Africa
– Asfour, F. ‘Cities in Transformation – Interview with Sharlene Khan’, Amkenah Magazine, Nr. 9, Alexandria
– Corrighall, M. ‘Here’s What I Think of your Labels’. Johannesburg
– Bohlin, A.L. ‘Gatans liv pa Bildmuseet. “Urban Concerns” ett smarbete med Sydafrika’, Folkbladnet. 19 January
– Sjorgen, A. ‘Gatans liv pa Bildmuseet’, Vasterbottens Folkblad. 29 January
– Pabale, M. ‘Artists Focus on Built Environment’. Joburg.org.za. 5 March
– Asfour, F. ‘Arts’. Karibu. Khanya College, Johannesburg, pp. 7
– Mdanda, S. ‘Sharlene Khan at Gallery Momo’, Artthrob, Issue 134 (October)
– Simba Sambo. ‘Free Radicals: Dead Revolutionaries Club’, Art South Africa, Vol. 6.3
– Janson, Marten. ‘Sharlene Khan – Imagining the Cityscape’
2007
– Merchant, Preston. ‘Sharlene Khan: ‘It started off as me and ended up as them’, 8 February
– Edblom, S. ‘Subject Matters’, Artlink, Vol 27, No. 2, June, Australia
2006
– Smith, K. ‘MTN New Contemporaries’, Art South Africa, Vol. 5.1, Spring, pp.68-69
2005
-Pichon, S. ‘Visions de l’Afrique du Sud’, Bordeaux 7, 21 September, Bordeaux , pp.11
– Talotta, J. ‘Picking Up the Pace of the Art World’, Business Day Art, July, pp.4-5, Johannesburg
2004
– Yorke, Z. ‘The ID of South African Art’, Art South Africa
– Van den Ende, J. ‘Identity: Maak Kennis Met de Hedendaagse Zuid-Afrikaanse Kunst’. Amstersdam
– Gule, K. ‘Sharlene Khan’ in Perryer, S. (ed.) 10 Years, 100 Artists, Cape Town: Bell-Roberts
– Rubin, N. ‘Blurred Visions’, Art South Africa, Vol.03, Issue: 02, Cape Town: Bell-Roberts
– Mofokeng, L. ‘Face Value’, Sunday Times (Metro supplement), 5 September, pp.14, Johannesburg
2003
– Ryan, M. ‘Murals Cheer Up Durban Station’, The Mercury, 5 February, pp.6, Durban
– Marschall, S. Community Murals in South Africa, pp.137-140, Pretoria: University of South Africa
– Metrobeat Reporter. ‘Mural Magic’, Metrobeat, September/October, pp.12, Durban
– Pillay, P. ‘Art is Sharlene’s Calling’, Post, 17-19 April, pp. 2, Durban
– Poldner, K. Storying Durban’s Art Scene, Unpublished Master’s Dissertation, Amsterdam: Vrijestaat Universiteit
2001
– Smart, C. ‘Workers’, The Daily News, 13 June, pp.5, Durban
– Mercury Reporter. ‘Worker’s Day’, The Mercury, 1 May, pp. 4, Durban
– Premdev, D. ‘Durban at Work’, Sunday Tribune (Sunday Magazine), 22 April, pp.3, Durban
– Pather, S. ‘Sharlene’s Eye for Detail Reveals Slice of Life Often Overlooked’. The Leader, pp.11, 4 May, Durban
1999
– Naidu, K. ‘Art-Stopping Stuff’, Inside UDW, August/September, pp. 4, Durban
– Maharaj, N. ‘Murals Helps Ward off the Hospital Blues’, Post, 26-27 May, Durban
1998
– Naidu, K. ‘UDW Scores Two Abe Bailey Fellows’, Inside UDW, October/November, pp.4, Durban
University Research Projects
Art on our Mind Research Project (2017-ongoing): This project is set up as a research group (made up of five women-of-colour postgraduate students), which researches over 2-3 months a selected South African woman-of-colour visual artist. We then have a public talk with her and put all this information online to encourage writing on these artists by accessing information on them easily.
o Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue with Sophie Peters, Nono Motlhoki and Sharlene Khan, 12 October 2021
o Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue with Lallitha Jawahirilal and Sharlene Khan, 10 October 2019
o Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue with Natasha Becker and Sharlene Khan, 5 September 2019
o Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue with Lebohang Kganye and Sharlene Khan, 9 May 2019
o Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue with Mamela Nyamza and Beverley Barry, 6 September 2019
o Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue ‘Curating as World-Making’ with Zodwa Skeyi-Tutani, Nontobeko Ntombela, Same Mdluli, Nomusa Makhubu, Nkule Mabaso and Sharlene Khan, 28 September 2018
o Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue with Senzeni Marasela and Sharlene Khan, 8 April 2018
o Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue with Reshma Chhiba and Nontobeko Ntombela, 27 October 2017
o Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue with Nontobeko Ntombela and Sharlene Khan, 8 September 2017
o Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue ‘Thinking Through, Talking Back: Creative Theorisation as Site of Praxis-Theory’ with Prof Pumla Gqola, Dr Yvette Abrahams, Dr Betty Govinden, Prof Neelika Jayawardane and Dr Sharlene Khan, 21 July 2017
African Feminisms (Afems) Conference (2017-ongoing): Co-initiated the first African Feminisms Conference in 2017 (in partnership with Prof Lynda Spencer and Dr Thando Njovane from the Dept of Literary Studies English at Rhodes University). The conference attracts more than 150 attendees yearly and hosts more than 70 paper and lecture performances, 20 performances, exhibitions and book launches.
o Afems 2017: Six Mountains on her Back – (Re)Reading African Feminisms Colloquium (21-22 July, Department of Fine Arts and Literary Studies in English, Rhodes University, Makhanda)
o Afems 2018: The Mute Always Speak – (Re)Imaging and Re-Imaging Feminist Futures (7-9 September, Department of Fine Arts and Literary Studies in English, Rhodes University, Makhanda)
o Afems 2019: Theorising from the Epicentres of our Agency (5-7 September, Wits School of Arts, Wits University, Johannesburg)
o Afems 2020: Healing as a Revolutionary Act (10 September, University of Cape Town, Rhodes University Department of Literary Studies in English and Wits Department of Fine Arts, online)
o Afems 2021: In Search of our Shrines – Feminist Healing and the Politics of Love (1-5 November, University of Cape Town, Rhodes University Department of Literary Studies in English and Wits Department of Fine Arts, online and UCT Graduate Business Centre, Cape Town)
Decolonial AestheSis Creative Lab (2017-ongoing): This is a creative lab that uses various decolonial strategies premised on the theoretical underpinnings of the likes of bell hooks, Frantz Fanon, Patricia Hill Collins, Bhekizizwe Peterson, Walter Mignolo and Rolando Vasquez.
o 8-14th July 2017, Rhodes University, Makhanda (Andrew Mellon Foundation – R120 000)
o Decolonial AestheSis: A Parcours, 30 October-2 November 2018, Decolonial Transformations Workshop, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
o Decolonial Parcours, 2019, UJ-Wits Postgraduate Workshop, The Point of Order, Wits University, Johannesburg
o Decolonial Parcours, 22-24 January 2020, Arts Research Africa Conference, Wits University, Johannesburg
Black Feminist Killjoy Reading Group (2016-ongoing): We hold a bi-weekly reading group that engages the work of women-of-colour cultural producers from across the world.
Funding/scholarships/awards
2021 Wits Research Award for preparing Art on our Mind book manuscript
2020 Wits Arts Research Africa Grant
2019 Penn State University Weiss Chair Funding for African Feminisms (Afems) 2019 Conference – $10 000
2018 National Arts Council funding for printing of book When the moon waxes red…
Winner: Visual Art category for When the moon waxes red, National Institute for Humanities and Social Science Awards
2017 Mellon Decolonial Grant for project ‘Decolonial AestheSis Creative Lab 2018
African Humanities Post-Doctoral Fellowship
Rhodes University Research Grant
National Research Foundation Thutuka Funding for 3-year research project Art on our Mind (2017-2019)
Andrew Mellon Inclusive Professorship Award – includes funds for research, teaching and postgraduate supervision for 3 years
2016 Funding for Aluta Continua: Doing it for Daddy Symposium from Rhodes University Research Office – R26 000
Rhodes University Travel and Conference Grant
Rhodes University Travel and Conference Grant
National Arts Council funding for the publication of the artist book I Make Art
2015 Second place winner of Videokunst Förderpreis Bremen for video project When the moon waxes red
One of the winners of the Africa Centre International AIR competition – chosen to participate in the Khoj
2014 International Residency Programme in India
One of the selected international applicants chosen to participate in the Gyeonngi AIR programme in Daebu Island, South Korea
Goldsmiths Graduate School Research Fund for Zanzibar International Film Festival conference presentation –
2013 Nominee (Women in Painting). South African Women in Arts Mbokodo Awards 2013. November
Goodenough College General and Lhasa bursary for accommodation
2012 Nominee (Women in Painting). South African Women in Arts Mbokodo Awards 2012. November
Abe Bailey/Goodenough College Accommodation Bursary
2011 Commonwealth Scholarship 2011 for three-year PhD study in Arts at Goldsmiths (University of London)
National Arts Council Overseas Scholarship
2010 Duke University Feminist Theory Workshop Travel Award 2010. Award to attend the Women’s Studies
2009 Programme Feminist Theory Workshop at Duke University, Durham, USA
2008 National Arts Council funding for project What I look like, What I feel like book
National Arts Council funding for project What I look like, What I feel like
2007 National Arts Council funding for project (B)lack
2006 National Arts Council funding for project Previously Disadvantaged
2005 National Arts Council funding for project Walking the Line
2004 Andrew Mellon Scholarship for PhD Study at University of the Witwatersrand (declined)
2003 One of four winners of a solo exhibition at the Goethe Institute-Johannesburg in their Fine Art Competition
University of the Witwatersrand Postgraduate Merit Award
University of the Witwatersrand Scholarship
2002 Andrew Mellon Scholarship to Rhodes University for a PhD Study at Rhodes University (declined)
2001 Winner of Ithala 2001 Poster Competition Southern Region
2000 University of Durban-Westville (UDW) Postgraduate Grant
UDW Merit Scholarship
National Research Foundation Award
1999 Postgraduate assistantship, Department of Fine Art, UDW
1998 Abe Bailey Travel Bursary to England in November/December
1996-8 TEFSA (now NFSAS) Student Bursary/Loan
National Research Foundation Scholarship
Abe Bailey Travel Bursary to England
TEFSA (now NFSAS) Student Bursary
Conferences / talks / reviewing / judging
2021
Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue with Sophie Peters, Nono Motlhoki and Sharlene Khan, African Feminisms (Afems) 2021 Conference, Cape Town, South Africa, 12 October
African Feminist Creative Theorisation and the Possibilities of the Imagination, Conference on the Global Knowledge Production in African Studies, 30 September-1st October 2021
Imagining an African Press, MissRead
Feminism Ya Mang, Feminism Yethu, Feminism Yani? Video dialogue with Noma Pakade, Gorata Chengeta, Tumi Mampane and Sharlene Khan hosted by Danai Mupotsa, Goethe Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa, online, 18 February
Turbine Art Fair Talk with Craig Jacobs and Sharlene Khan, 29 August
Turbine Art Fair Talk with Mary Sibande, Reshma Chhiba and Willemien de Villiers moderated by Sharlene Khan, 29 August
– Tactile Visions-Woven Exhibition (2020) – curated a set of talks with artists:
o Bev Butkow and Sharlene Khan
o Buhlebezwe Siwani and Sharlene Khan
o Londiwe Mtshali and Sharlene Khan
o Philiswa Lila and Sharlene Khan
o Reshma Chhiba and Sharlene Khan
o Mary Sibande and Sharlene Khan
o Nono Motlhoki and Sharlene Khan
o Zodwa Skeyi-Tutani and Sharlene Khan
o Dean Hutton and Sharlene Khan
o Lebogang Mogul and Sharlene Khan
o Willemien de Villiers and Sharlene Khan
o Thania Petersen and Sharlene Khan
o Lindelwa Masuku and Sharlene Khan
o Sikhumbuzo Makandula and Sharlene Khan
o Tactile Visions curatorial vision
Love in Five Parts, Visual Collaboration with Fouad Asfour, Nono Motlhoki, Zama Mwandla as part of Kundai Moyo’s workshop for her exhibition at the KZNSA Gallery, online, 18 August
Bag Factory Studio Residency Artists talk with Georgina Maxim and Erla Haraldsdottir moderated by Sharlene Khan, online, 25 April
Skin, Bone, Fire: The First Album, Opening Talk for Philiswa Lila’s exhibition Skin, Bone, Fire: The First Album, Absa Gallery, Johannesburg, 1 February
Constructing Landscapes of Probabilities, Moderation of Dialogue between Thenjiwe Niki Nkosi and Malebona Maphutse, Cape Town International Art Fair Talks Programme, Cape Town, 14 February
Book launch respondent to Nedine Moonsamy’s The Unfamous Five, Lovebooks, Johannesburg, 29 October
Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue with Lallitha Jawahirilal and Sharlene Khan, The Point of Order Project Space, Wits University, 10 October
2019
Keynote: A Tribute to Toni Morrison, African Feminisms (Afems) 2019 Conference, Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa, 7 September
Memento Mori/In-Memorium: Gendered Violence in the Visual Arts, African Feminisms (Afems) 2019 Conference, Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa, 7 September
Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue with Mamela Nyamza and Beverley Barry, African Feminisms (Afems) 2019 Conference, Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa, 6 September
Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue with Natasha Becker and Sharlene Khan, African Feminisms (Afems) 2019 Conference, Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa, 5 September
‘We All Fall Down: Thinking through Lines of Proximity in South African Museum Visual Art Collecting’, invited speaker, What do Museums Change? – Art and Democracy, MMCA Research Project International Symposium on the occasion of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s 50th Anniversary, Seoul, South Korea, 28-29 June
Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue with Lebohang Kganye and Sharlene Khan, The Point of Order Project Space, Wits University, 9 May
Memento Mori/In-Memorium: Gendered Violence in the Visual Arts, Intimacy and Injury Workshop, Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa, 14-15 February
2018
Co-facilitator of Article Writing Workshop, National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences Article Writing Workshop, Port Alfred, South Africa, 4-5 December
Co-facilitator of Decolonial AestheSis: A Parcour with Fouad Asfour, Decolonial Transformations Workshop, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK, 30 October-2 November
Co-convenor of the 2nd African Feminisms (Afems) Conference: The Mute Always Speak held at Rhodes University Departments of Fine Art and Literary Studies in English, attended by 60 presenters and 120 participants, 27-29 September
Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue ‘Curating as World-Making’ with Zodwa Skeyi-Tutani, Nontobeko Ntombela, Same Mdluli, Nomusa Makhubu, Nkule Mabaso and Sharlene Khan, The Mute Always Speak, African Feminisms (Afems) Conference, School of Fine Art, Rhodes University, 28 September
Negotiating inside-outsider / outside-insider positionality through an African feminist research methodology, Plenary talk and mentoring for the Language, Literature and Art doctoral candidates at the National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences Doctoral Conference, George, South Africa, 7-9th August
Artist Talk, Michaelis Galleries, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, 25 July
– Convenor: Decolonial AestheSis Creative Lab, Rhodes Fine Art Department. A praxis-based creative lab with invited guests Prof Bhekizizwe Peterson, Laura Andel, Jon Alpert, Vibha Galhotra, Fouad Asfour and 22 selected participants. The Lab was sponsored by the Andrew Mellon Decolonial Funds Grant, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa, 8-14 July
When the moon waxes red, performative presentation as part of the Re-membering: Memory, Intimacy, Archive with panelists Tiffany Mugo, Dan Ojwang, Keval Harie, The Point of Order, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, 18 April
Artist Talk, The Point of Order, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, 12 April
Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue with Senzeni Marasela and Sharlene Khan, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa, 8th April
Vital Statistic of a Citizen, performance and roundtable, Narrative Enquiry for Social Transformation (NEST) conference, Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa, 22-24 March
2017
Paper presentation: The Personal is Institutional at the ‘Translate Contemporary Art’ roundtable, AICA Congress, Institut National de l’historie de l’art, Paris, 13-17 November
Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue with Reshma Chhiba and Nontobeko Ntombela, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa, 27th October
Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue with Nontobeko Ntombela and Sharlene Khan, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa, 8th September
Video screening: When the moon waxes red, East African Literary and Cultural Studies (EALCS) Conference, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 24-26 August
Art on our Mind Creative Dialogue ‘Thinking Through, Talking Back: Creative Theorisation as Site of Praxis-Theory’ with Prof Pumla Gqola, Dr Yvette Abrahams, Six Mountains on her Back: (Re)thinking African Feminisms Colloquium, School of Fine Art, Rhodes University, 21 July
Co-convenor (along with the Department of English and Finding Africa), Six Mountains on her Back: (Re)thinking African Feminisms Colloquium, 21-22 July, Rhodes University, RSA
Presentation: When the moon waxes red, Keynote, NEST Symposium hosted by Wits-Stellenbosch-UCT Universities, 29th – 31st March, Cape Town, RSA.
Conference paper: Concerning Violence, Democratic Violence Conference, Rhodes University, 20th – 24th March, Makhanda, RSA.
Presentation: I Make Art – Voicing Voice, Speaking Self and Doing Criticality, Symposium performative presentation, ArtSearch symposium hosted by Wits University, 9th – 11th March, Dance Factory, Johannesburg, RSA.
2016
Presentation: I Make Art – Voicing Voice, Speaking Self and Doing Criticality, Conference performative presentation, Panel: Transgressive Acts: Transnational Bodies, Memory and Change, Black Portraitures Conference hosted by NYU Tisch School, 16th – 18th November, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, RSA. Panelists: Roshini Kempadoo, Harun Gun Sallie, Victoria Collis
Presentation: When the moon waxes red, Conference performative presentation, Panel: Reorienting the Axis: Global African Networks and Visual Production, Black Portraitures Conference hosted by NYU Tisch School, 16th – 18th November, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, RSA. Moderator: Kalia Brooks (New York University) and Anna Arabindan-Kesson. Panelists: Temi Odumosu; Awam Amkpa,
Panel convenor and moderator, The Black Body in Pain, Black Portraitures Conference hosted by NYU Tisch School, 16th – 18th November, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, RSA. Panelists: Nomusa Makhubu, Same Mdluli, Khwezi Gule, Fouad Asfour
When the moon waxes red… Negotiating subjective terrain as an ‘inside-Outsider, an Outside-insider’ researcher within a postcolonial community, Conference performative presentation, Afrasians Conference, Goethe Universitat-Frankfurt, Germany, 28th – 30th September
Symposium convener: Aluta Continua: Doing it for Daddy…Ten Years On Symposium at School of Fine Art, 16th – 17th September, Rhodes University, Makhanda, RSA. Invited guests included: Khwezi Gule, Nontobeko Ntombela, Nomusa Makhubu, Same Mdluli, Fouad Asfour, Ruth Simbao, Gemma Hart, Sikhumbuzo Makandula, Simnikwe Buhlungu, Khwezi Zungu, Mosa Kaiser, Aaliyah Tshabalala. Presented the opening address: Aluta Continua: Doing it for Daddy…Ten Years On and the closing presentation: Doing Race Work
When the moon waxes red, Conference performative presentation at the Decolonising Feminism Conference, 26th – 28th August, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, RSA
Decolonial AestheSis as a consideration for an art history curriculum, Decolonising the Curriculum Conference, 16th – 17th August, University of South Africa (UNISA), Pretoria, RSA
‘Postcolonial Masquerading’ and ‘Bio-mythography’ in the Re-telling of our Mothers Postcolonial Lives, Conference paper presentation, Association for Commonwealth Language and Literature Studies (ACLALS), 10-15th July, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, RSA
On Being the Problem, Black Artists/White Labels, 6th June, Point of Order Gallery, Johannesburg, RSA
I Make Art – Voicing Voice, Speaking Self and Doing Criticality, Lucid Lunchbox lecture, 14th April, School of Fine Art, Rhodes University, Makhanda, RSA
When the moon waxes red, performative presentation, 1917/2017: Visual Arts after Indenture Conference, York University, Toronto, Canada, 18-20 March
2015
Touching and Fondling the Black Body – the Significance of the Blackface Sign in Contemporary South African Visual Arts, BMCCT Visual Arts Symposium, 8-11th September, Walter Sisulu University, RSA
Touching and Fondling the Black Body – the Significance of the Blackface Sign in Contemporary South African Visual Arts, Africa Research Day 2015, 16 March, School of Oriental and African Studies, UK
2014
Radical Politics, Critical Academia: Talking the Talk but Walking the Walk?, paper presented in conjunction with Dieuwertje Dyi Huijg and Terese Jonsson at the London South Bank University conference: Critical Diversities: Policies, Practices and Perspectives, 10-11 July, London, UK
I Make Art – Voicing Voice, Speaking Self and Doing Criticality, paper presented at the National Academy of Sound and Screen and the Zanzibar Film Festival Conference: Creative Practice, Context and Commentary: a Dialogue on Inspirational Production, 20-22 June, Stone Town, Zanzibar
“And so She Died Elsie”– Postcolonial Masquerading Strategies in the Works of South African Visual Artists Tracey Rose, Nandipha Mntambo, Senzeni Marasela and Mary Sibande, conference paper presented at the ARTchipelago Workshop Conference, 14 June, Mauritius
I Make Art, artist talk at the Institute of International Visual Arts (INIVA), 18 May, London, UKAvailable at: https://soundcloud.com/iniva/stuart-hall-library-research-network-sharlene-khan
An Economy of Blackness in an Economy of Whiteness – the Significance of the Blackface Sign in Contemporary South African Visual Arts, paper presented at the ‘Hallucinatory Theatres’ Goldsmiths Art Research Symposium, 12 May, Goldsmiths, University of London, UK
An Economy of Blackness in an Economy of Whiteness – the Significance of the Blackface Sign in Contemporary South African Visual Arts, paper presented at the ‘Uncommon Wealths: Riches and Realities’ Conference, European Association for Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies (EACLALS), 14-18 June, University of Innsbruck, Austria
2013
“And so She Died Elsie” – Postcolonial Masquerading Strategies in the Works of South African Visual Artists Tracey Rose, Nandipha Mntambo, Senzeni Marasela and Mary Sibande, paper presented at the ‘Visualising and Materialising Colonial Spaces’ Conference, 11 January, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
2011
Canon Collins Scholar Talk, 9 July, St Paul’s Cathedral, London, United Kingdom
Vote of thanks at launch of Canon Collins Scholarship and Legal Assistance Trust, 14 November, South Africa House, South African embassy, London, United Kingdom
2008
Artist Talk, 25 January, University of Commonwealth Qatar, Doha, Qatar
2007
Feminist Perspectives on Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, paper presented at ‘Representations of Winnie-Madikizela-Mandela’ symposium, 27 – 28 June, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, RSA
David Koloane workshop presentation, 9 May, Wits School of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, RSA
2005
Artist Talk. Umea University. Umea, Sweden. 17 January
2003
Artist Talk, Migrationsculturelles (MC2a), September, Bordeaux, France
Artist Talk, School of Fashion, September, Bordeaux, France
Perceptions of South African Indian Artists in the Visual Arts Field, Conference paper presented at the South African Architecture and Art Historian Conference, 9-11 September, Rhodes University, Makhanda, RSA
2002
Artist talk, 27 October, American University in Cairo, Egypt
1999
Female Stereotypes in Murals. Visual Art Symposium, Drakensberg, RSA
The Role of Public Art in a Post-Apartheid Society: With Special Reference to the Greater Ladysmith Area, 94 -98, June, Bat Centre, Durban, RSA
Interviews
2020
– Podcast: Transfixed in Mothering Time, Mamas with Attitude – Ep16, 30 September
– Podcast: Feminism is not about ‘Eating’ Men for Breakfast, Sharlene Khan Chats with Danielle Painter, Jacaranda-FM, 24 August
– Hir-self at work in the Art World, Latitudes Webinar with Makgati Molebatsi, Refilwe Nkomo and Sharlene Khan, moderated by Beathur Mgoza Baker, 9 August
2019
– Podcast: Creativity, Agency and African Feminisms Conference 2019, Arts Research Africa Dialogues, Wits School of the Arts, Johannesburg, RSA
2018
– Rhodes FM, Interview on African Feminisms (Afems) 2018, Makhanda: RFM
Podcast: Sharlene Khan, Canon Collins Legal and Educational Trust, London: UK
2017
– Rhodes FM, Interview on book I Make Art, Makhanda: RFM
2016
– Kusthalle Bremen, Curator Tessa Alex Interviews Sharlene Khan, Soundcloud, 19 February
2011
– SAFM, Interview on Artist Residency Programmes, October, Johannesburg: SABC
2008
– Richards, N. Interview, Otherwise, SAFM Live Radio, 28 March, Johannesburg: SABC
– Lotus FM. Interview, Live Radio Station, 3 September, Durban: SABC
– SAFM, Interview, Live Radio Station, 15 March, Johannesburg: SABC
2007
– Janson, Marten and Sharlene Khan – Imagining the Cityscape, StreetNet International.org. Interview
2006
-Merchant, Preston. Sharlene Khan: “It started off as me and ended up as them”, 8 February
– Mabe, S. Interview, Weekend Live, 27 August, Johannesburg: SABC 2
Mofokeng, J. Featured Artist, Curious Culture, 21 May, Johannesburg: TV 2
2005
– The Apprentice TV Show, Art Sale, August, Johannesburg: SABC 3
2004
– 3 Talk Live Chat Show, 10 Years, 100 Artists, 29 October, Johannesburg: SABC 3
– Top Billing Magazine Programme, Wearable Art, 1 October, Johannesburg: SABC 3
Professional / Leadership Positions
Ongoing Reviewer for Critical Arts, Journal of Eastern African Literary and Cultural Studies, Postcolonial Text, Educational Research for Social Change, Journal of African Cinema
2020 Reviewer for National Research Foundation (NRF)
2009-2020 Co-founder of the Canon Collins Thekgo Bursary which funds undergraduate and postgraduate first year registrations and debt relief for students across South Africa
2018-2019 SA Artbank panel/reviewer
2017-2020 Editorial board, Journal for Decolonising Disciplines
2016, 2021 Regional judge for Sasol New Signatures
2011-16 International reviewer for Arts and Literary Arts Panel for the Rockefeller Bellagio International Residency Programme in Italy
2011 UNISA Department of Art History, Visual Arts and Musicology Gallery Committee and Departmental Marketing Committee
2011 Regional judge for the New Signatures Competition, Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria, South Africa
2010 Reviewer for Visual Arts Projects for the 2011 Rockefeller Bellagio International Residency Programme in Italy