This year, Southern Guild, a gallery based in Cape Town South Africa and Los Angeles, makes its anticipated debut at Frieze LA. Known for championing design-led contemporary art from the African continent, the gallery’s presentation focuses on themes of personhood, domesticity, and materiality, brought to life through the multidisciplinary practices of five exceptional women artists.
Frieze Los Angeles , returns to Santa Monica Airport this February, a city still grappling with the aftermath of devastating wildfires. Amidst this backdrop, the fair’s sixth edition (Feb. 20–23, 2025) reaffirms the resilience of art in uniting communities, healing wounds, and reimagining futures. Featuring over 100 galleries from more than 20 countries, it continues to attract both seasoned collectors and Hollywood elites, solidifying its reputation as a premier art event.
Art as a Narrative: Featured Artists and Works
Zanele Muholi, an internationally celebrated visual activist and artist, leads the showcase with works from their Somnyama Ngonyama (Hail the Dark Lioness) series. These self-portraits—one displayed in lightbox form—offer poignant reflections on identity, race, and resilience. Muholi’s work has garnered global acclaim, underscored by exhibitions in major institutions and a strong secondary market presence.
Zizipho Poswa, a trailblazer in South African ceramics, presents new pieces from her iLobola series, alongside a monumental ceramic and bronze sculpture from her solo exhibition Indyebo yakwaNtu. The latter inaugurated Southern Guild’s expansive Los Angeles space earlier this year. Poswa’s work bridges personal narratives with African cultural motifs, earning her growing recognition among collectors seeking tactile, culturally resonant pieces.
Manyaku Mashilo introduces mixed-media paintings that extend her practice of exploring memory and spirituality. These works build on her recent U.S. solo exhibition, The Laying of Hands, set to open days before Frieze on Feb. 13, 2025. Mashilo’s textural depth and emotive storytelling have positioned her as a rising star in the contemporary African art scene.
For the first time at an international art fair, Bonolo Kavula showcases a commissioned textile installation crafted from shweshwe fabric, thread, and glue. Kavula’s intricate, layered works—already featured at Art Basel Miami and Art Basel Hong Kong in 2024—reflect a dynamic interplay of traditional African materials and modern abstraction.
Adding a local perspective, Alex Hedison, an LA-based artist and filmmaker, presents a photograph from her series Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. Captured over four years in Malibu, the series delves into impermanence, memory, and the fragile landscapes beneath beach houses. Hedison’s works resonate deeply with Los Angeles’ precarious relationship with nature, especially poignant in the wake of the city’s wildfires.
Cultural Healing and Market Implications
The timing of Frieze LA carries profound significance. The recent wildfires destroyed over 7,500 structures and claimed at least 27 lives, affecting many within the city’s vibrant art ecosystem. By bringing together global and local artists, galleries, and collectors, the fair not only highlights the healing power of cultural expression but also reaffirms the role of art in rebuilding community ties and supporting economic recovery.
For Southern Guild, this debut signifies a strategic move into the North American market, leveraging the platform’s global visibility to elevate its artists and their works. With collectors increasingly drawn to African contemporary art, the gallery’s presence at Frieze LA is a testament to its growing clout in the international art market.
As Los Angeles rebuilds, Frieze serves as a reminder of art’s enduring power to inspire, connect, and transform. Southern Guild’s presentation, rooted in rich narratives and innovative practices, epitomizes this ethos—offering a window into the depth and diversity of African creativity while shaping the global discourse on contemporary art.
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