A new contemporary art gallery, kumalo | turpin, has opened in Johannesburg's Parktown North neighborhood, housed within the Nine Yards precinct. The gallery launched with an exhibition titled "gender/genre," featuring works by women artists across sculpture, painting, and photography. Co-founders Zanele Kumalo and MJ Turpin, the latter formerly co-director of the Kalashnikovv Gallery, aim to showcase emerging artists from the global majority. The opening attracted a crowd of local art-world figures, collectors, and creatives, including Marc Lubner, Niki Judelman, and photographer Trevor Stuurman.
The opening of kumalo | turpin signals a fresh addition to Johannesburg's contemporary art scene, offering a dedicated platform for underrepresented voices. By focusing on artists from the global majority and launching with a gender-focused exhibition, the gallery addresses ongoing conversations about diversity and inclusion in the art world. Its location in the Nine Yards precinct, a hub that blends art, wellness, and dining, also reflects a trend toward mixed-use cultural destinations in urban redevelopment.