PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS

The South African Ceramics Gallery- This small but significant gallery serves as the main foyer and displays a selection of 20th and 21st-century factory production ceramics and studio ceramics including contemporary fine art ceramics. This area exhibits the newest and latest ceramic acquisitions to the museum collections. Ceramics include signature Ardmore pieces and other works from well-known South African ceramicists such as Henriette Ngako, Stanley Nkosi, Andrew Walford, Esias Bosch, Margot Rudolph, Dale Lambert, Digby Hoets, and Zanele Nkosi.

The World of Ceramics Gallery - Comprising several open gallery spaces, the World of Ceramics Gallery exhibits more than 900 ceramics from across the world.

The Western Ceramics Gallery- Presents a rare collection of Dutch commemorative war ceramics, Gouda wares inspired by Art Nouveau and Art Deco, as well as a unique assemblage of Dutch tiles including 18th through 20th-century ceramics from Spain, Portugal, France, Germany and England among many more beautiful wares from other European countries.

The Tin-Glaze Ceramics Gallery- This small display gallery remains dedicated to blue and white ceramics typical of tin-glazed earthenware such as recognisable delftware, majolica, lead-glazed ware, and luster ware and faience examples.

The Van Tilburg Art Collection Gallery- Forming part of the southern wing of the Old Arts Building, this gallery exhibits a selection of 17th to 20th-century Dutch masterpieces as well as items of historical furniture donated to the University of Pretoria by J.A. Van Tilburg in 1976. This gallery offers a beautiful and exclusive meeting space with a central historical table surrounded by captivating paintings. A key highlight is a merchant’s chest, the oldest known historical furniture piece in South Africa.

The Sculpture and Art Gallery - Arriving at the impressive staircase to the Old Merensky Building, level 3, one enters one of the largest museum galleries. More popularly known for its sculptural and more recent artworks. Containing the western, eastern and central wings of the museum are some of the finest sculptural works of both classic and modern sculptures. The oldest museum sculpture dates to 1881 titled, Bird Catcher by the South African sculptor, Anton Van Wouw (1862-1945). Many of the new acquisitions to the museum gallery share a particular enriched narrative and reflection in relation to sculpture and art within a South African context. These include works by Collen Maswanganyi, Lwandiso Njara, Martin Tose, Zelda Stroud, Theophelus Rikhotso, Nikita Pereira, Michael Teffo, Willem Boshoff and Jan van der Merwe. This ever-expanding collection is considered one of the largest permanent sculptural collections at any university in South Africa. Commonly referred to as the Villa Gallery, new acquisitions, works on loan, and artworks are often temporarily exhibited here to showcase the diversity of art and current new purchases by the University of Pretoria.

TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS

Hezekiel Ntuli (1912-1973) Retrospective
Gallery 2-4, Old Arts Building
August 2025 to November 2026

This first retrospective exhibition of Hezekiel Ntuli (1912-1973) by the University of Pretoria makes this a new and exciting exhibition. Following a significant donation in 2024, this added substantially to the institutional collection when they first acquired works by Ntuli as early as 1933 and more acquisitions were made in 2022. The exhibition will draw on over 30 of Ntuli’s works, primarily sculptural busts of Zulu Nduna, animal figures and his iconic leopards. The exhibition will add to the university canon of South African art and highlight Ntuli as a lesser-known artist marginalised for decades. Hezekiel Ntuli was born in 1912 near Eshowe, in the district of Ntueni in Kwa-Zulu Natal. He began clay modelling of cattle at the young age of four. Ntuli reached fame at age 19 in 1931 when he was featured as a talented sculptor in the magazine Die Huisgenoot. Ntuli was influenced by his brother Jubulani Ntuli and other artists on the fringes, such as Samuel Makoanyane, Themba Mholongo, Frikkie Kruger, N Young, Padie Ntuli and Pierre van Reyneveld.

Unclaying: South African Ceramics
Gallery 2-12, Old Arts Building
7 April 2025 to December 2026

Ceramics have become both utilitarian and ornamental items in many South African households. Items such as grandmothers’ tea sets and collectable porcelain are often kept in cabinets and only brought out on special occasions. However, ceramic art continues to be appreciated, spanning from factory and studio ceramics to the iconic pottery of the Venda, Zulu, and Sotho cultures, which contribute to the South African art canon of traditional ceramics. Ceramics are recognised not only for their utility but also for their beauty and design. The medium of clay is versatile, and ‘unclaying’ allows us to deconstruct ceramics from a singular artistic perspective. It embodies the storytelling, histories, and cultural and social expressions found in ceramics. This exhibition of ‘unclaying’ presents an unbiased collection of ceramics drawn from museum storage. This collection includes some contemporary pieces that have never been seen before, alongside familiar favourites such as those from Ardmore, Kalahari Studios, Henriette Ngako, Nic Sitole, and many others.

Bokgabo ba Mašela: Art of Textiles
Bridge Gallery, Javett-UP
7 March 2025 to 18 October 2025

The art of material and weaving is showcased to celebrate the sophistication of textiles, where both simplicity and complexity highlight the beautiful and intricately woven world, which reveals the ability of textiles to tell long-forgotten stories. Drawing from the University of Pretoria permanent collection, the exhibition focuses on the art of textiles and asks questions about its place within the canon of art history and, more importantly, how we can understand contemporary textile art practice in an ever-shrinking world. Signature textile works such as Keiskammahoek Guernica, Haute Couture pieces from Marianne Fassler (Leopard Frock), Mogalakwena Art Centre Women, textiles from the Congo and other parts of the world that interact to create a cacophony of women voices long unheard. Mainly featured in the exhibitions are UP’s textiles of works by Allina Ndebele, Karel Nel, Amita Mikan, Andre Naude and the impressive Kaross™ UP centenary tapestry.

Further information on GLAM Tours:

Matsobane Steven Motena (Interpretive Officer & Tourist Guide)

Tel: +27 (0)12 420 2178

Email: [email protected]