Standard Bank has launched The Standard Bank Art Lab, a new visual arts space at Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton City, South Africa, on June 5. The inaugural exhibition, titled "Follow the Blue Thread: It’s Woven Into Who We Are," features works by artists including Penny Siopis, Judith Mason, Sam Nhlengethwa, William Kentridge, and Miriam Ndebele, focusing on tapestry and African creativity.
The Art Lab extends Standard Bank’s four-decade commitment to the arts, adding to its portfolio that includes the Standard Bank Gallery, Corporate Art Collection, African Art Collection, the National Arts Festival, and the Standard Bank Young Artists Awards. By transforming corporate collections into a living resource, the space aims to foster collaboration, support the creative economy, and provoke questions about cultural memory and storytelling in contemporary Africa.