Laws enforced during the years of apartheid prevented black people in South Africa from attending formal art education institutions, resulting in their work not being categorized as “art” but as “craft”.
Two major art events that had an important impact on the global and local awareness of South African art were the Johannesburg Biennales, Africus (1995), and Trade Routes (1997).
There has been a boom in the South African and African art market, grabbing the attention of collectors from around the world, along with a rise in the number of art galleries and venues opening.