The Denver Art Museum in Colorado, the United States, is opening its summer art season with a solo exhibition of Africa-inspired artworks by South African artist Simphiwe Ndzube. 

Through his first-ever solo museum exhibition in the United States, which is titled “Oracles of the Pink Universe”, Ndzube examines and interprets his feelings about a post-apartheid world. The collection of bright and colorful large-scale paintings and sculptures is full of powerful and surreal scenes and characters born out of apartheid South Africa.

The works in the collection push boundaries and address difficult themes with color and fantasy, certain to leave a viewer with an appreciation for the subject matter and a curiosity to follow the messages and questions raised by the insightful art pieces.

Expanding on the significance of this exhibition, the 31-year-old artist who was born in Cape Town, South Africa, but who now lives and works in Los Angeles, California, told Denver TV station, CBS4, that “the artwork is a relationship between sculpture and painting, color, texture, fashion.”

Impressed with the originality and artistry of his artworks, the Denver Art Museum acquired two of his pieces; a purchase that deeply excited Ndzube who stated that he is proud that his work will live on for generations to come.

“It feels incredible. It feels validated. Even if some of the stuff I have at home, like you know, the sun burns them, and they don’t survive longer, but at least there’s two that are really good that are taken care of,” he enthused.

“To have my first museum show outside of my country, it puts a beautiful stamp into saying that ‘Continue, people are excited to enjoy the work,’” Ndzube explained. “It gave me a platform to really tap into what is most fundamental, I feel for me, which is imagination.”

“To have people experience something new and they are feeling like they are, maybe, more closer to their feelings and it’s, maybe possibly, the first visit to a museum in a long time, it’s exciting for me,” he added.

“Oracles of the Pink Universe” runs through the summer art season through fall, closing o October 10. The exhibition is included in a general admission ticket. 

Included in the exhibition package is a Virtual Studio Visit with artist Simphiwe Ndzube which will be hosted by the Denver Art Museum on June 30 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Ndzube has had his works displayed in exhibitions in Los Angeles; Shanghai, China; Bucharest, Romania; as well as his native South Africa. He lists some of Africa’s greatest artists such as Ben Okri and Zakes Mda as his narrative influences.

For a leading US museum of art such as the Denver Art Museum to readily make a collection of African art one of its solo Summer art exhibition season speaks to the growing influence of African art and artists in the international art scene. If you’ve been mulling if collecting African art is the way to go, here’s your sign that yes, it will be the biggest investment you will make this year! 

Aworanka helps you by curating authentic African art from some of the most established galleries and artists across the continent and having them all in one place for you online. Go on Aworanka.com and shop away!