Established by internationally acclaimed visual artists Mary Sibande and Lawrence Lemaoana, Occupying the Gallery is a project where artists take up residence in and transform an otherwise used space into an active open working environment that offers access into artistic processes.

With every residency, Occupying the Gallery partners with a master print and publishing house where artists conceptualise a series of prints that will inform the bodies of work they will produce while in residency. For this season’s occupation, the partnership is with Artist Proof Studios. Leaders in fine art printmaking since 1991, Artist Proof Studios specialises in training, collaborating and distributing prints in partnership with artists. 

For the occupation, Sibande and Lemaoana will be joined by a cohort of seven made up of the following artists and technicians: Mosa Anita Kaiser, Hoek Swaratlhe, Londiwe Mtshali, Sphatho Mzantsi, Bongani Ndlovu, Tatenda Magaisa and Mlondi Magubane. An artist's studio represents a generative period of trial and error. Conventionally private, access to their movements, frustrations, breakthroughs and works in progress is a vulnerable invitation to build an insightful relationship with their practice.