The Young Artists’ Project (YAP) exhibition returns to the KZNSA Gallery in Durban, South Africa, from August 22 to September 21. Initiated in 2002 by then-curator Storm Janse van Rensburg, the annual project mentors emerging artists in producing their first solo exhibitions. This year features two artists: N’lamwai Luntha Chithambo, a Malawian-born painter who earned degrees from Rhodes University and has shown at the National Arts Festival and Sasol New Signatures; and Zama Mwandla, a South African surrealist painter whose work confronts sexual violence and healing, with exhibitions at the African Feminisms show and the 54th Art & Antique Fair in Salzburg.
This project matters because it provides a critical platform for nurturing the next generation of visual artists in KwaZulu-Natal, offering mentorship, professional development, and public exposure. By supporting young talents like Chithambo and Mwandla, YAP helps diversify the South African art scene and addresses urgent social themes through contemporary art. The revival with funding from Rand Mutual Assurance ensures the program’s sustainability, reinforcing the KZNSA Gallery’s role as a vital incubator for emerging voices.