When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting

At a time when conversations about diversity, representation, and identity are more important than ever, Bozar’s latest exhibition When We See Us offers a powerful exploration into how we perceive ourselves and others.

Kudzanai-Violet Hwami, An evening in Mazowe, 2019, Courtesy of Jorge M. Pérez Collection, Miami © Kudzanai-Violet Hwami

How have artists from Africa and its vast diaspora depicted daily life over the past century? Koyo Kouoh, Executive Director and Chief Curator of Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town, and her team have sought to answer this question with a landmark exhibition. Bozar presents this vast kaleidoscope of Black figurative painting from the 1920s to the present day. 

Inspired by Ava DuVernay's series When They See Us, the exhibition title "When We See Us" reflects a fundamental perspective exploring Black self-representation and global Black subjectivities. The approximately 150 works by around 120 artists are grouped into six themes: "The Everyday”, "Joy & Revelry”, "Repose”, "Sensuality”, "Spirituality”, and "Triumph and Emancipation”.

Curated with an eye for inclusivity and authenticity, When We See Us brings together works from artists across the globe who challenge traditional norms and redefine what it means to "see" oneself in art. Through mediums ranging from photography and painting to multimedia installations and performance pieces, these creators invite audiences to reflect on their own identities while celebrating the richness of human experience.

This exhibition, conceived and organised by Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) In Cape Town runs until 10 August 2025.