ARTdacity S3 E5: From Modernist Masters to Hair Matters - Strauss & Co

Cape Town is alive with the electric energy of Art Fair season, and we’re right in the heart of the action at Strauss & Co.to explore two extraordinary exhibitions that bookend the story of South African art: “Portway to Cohen” and the deeply poignant “Hair Matters.”
I’m joined by art specialist Wilhelm and researcher Kirstie Pietersen to navigate this rich landscape—from the modernist legacy of Douglas Portway and the provocative, identity-driven performances of Steven Cohen, to a pan-African exploration of hair as a crown, a commodity, and a powerful vessel for history. We discuss the works of trailblazers like Tracey Rose, Hank Willis Thomas, and Adebunmi Gbadebo, uncovering how art serves as both a mirror and a catalyst for liberation.