Born in 1977 in Thokoza and currently living in Johannesburg, South Africa, Senzeni Marasela is a cross-disciplinary artist whose practice spans photography, printmaking, performance, and mixed-media installations incorporating textiles and embroidery. Her work focuses on the lived experiences of Black South African women, drawing on both historical and personal narratives and often expressed through material culture such as fabric and clothing. A central motif in her practice is the colour red, which she connects to the "red dust" period in South African history, a time of drought, displacement, and social upheaval.

Marasela is especially known for her long-duration performances, most notably ‘Ijermani Lam’ (2013–2019), a six-year work in which she wore the same red dress every day, embodying the condition of waiting. She frequently channels both personal and collective histories through figures such as her fictional alter ego, "Theodorah Mthetyane", whose story reflects the experiences of countless women waiting for absent husbands.

Her use of red traces intergenerational experiences of womanhood, beginning with her grandmother’s era and extending to broader narratives of Black South African life. The “red dust” evokes drought-stricken rural landscapes, the movements of men conscripted into war or drawn to Johannesburg’s mines, and the scarred terrain of the city’s mine dumps – enduring evidence of their labour. In Marasela’s hands, red becomes a vivid marker of histories often misrepresented, silenced, or erased. Employing materials such as Ishweshwe cloth and Kaffir lime fabric, as well as techniques like photomontage, she creates fictionalised yet resonant stories of this period, reimagining daily life with both intimacy and historical weight.

Marasela graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1998 and shortly thereafter completed a residency at the South African National Gallery, culminating in her inclusion in its ‘Fresh’ exhibition series. Since then, her work has been exhibited widely across South Africa, Europe, and the United States and features in major institutional and private collections including; the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, the Smithsonian (Washington), the Newark Museum (New Jersey) and the Iziko South African National galleries (Cape Town) amongst others. She was also included in the Johannesburg Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale (2015).

Her solo exhibitions include 'Waiting for Gebane: Dolly Parton' (Toffee Gallery, Darling, 2018), 'Beyond Booty: Covering Sarah Baartman and Other Tales' (Axis Gallery, New York, 2010), and 'Three Women, Three Voices' (Johannesburg Art Gallery, 2004).

Group exhibitions include 'Impressions from South Africa: Printed Art/1965 to Now' (MoMA, New York, 2011), 'Darkroom: South African Photography and New Media 1950–Present' (Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 2013), 'I Am... Contemporary Women Artists of Africa' (Smithsonian NMAFA, Washington, DC, 2019), and 'Made Visible: Contemporary South African Fashion and Identity' (MFA Boston, 2019).

Her practice has been featured in influential publications such as 'South African Art Now' (2009), 'Darkroom' (2009), and '10 Years, 100 Artists' (2005). In 2022, she became the inaugural recipient of the K21 Global Art Award from Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Cologne, selected by an international jury of curators and museum directors.

SOLO & DUO EXHIBITIONS

2025

'Fine Lines', Curated by Refilwe Mkomo, in conjunction with Ellis House as part of the JSE Art Share Initiative, JSE Building Ground Floor, Johannesburg, South Africa

'Madoli Wam', Curated by Banthatile Rwasoka, Central Library, Cape Town Photography Festival, Cape Town, South Africa

‘Walking With Theodora_After Extraction’, Ellis House, Johannesburg, South Africa

‘Xenopolis’ and ‘Waiting and Remembering’, FADA Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

‘Studio Show’, Senzeni Marasela Studio and Imba Ya Sarai Gallery, Ellis Art House, Johannesburg, South Africa

‘2 O’clock’, Ellis Art House Project, Johannesburg, South Africa

2024

‘I write (stitch) what I like’, Bode, Berlin, Germany

2020

‘Waiting for Gebane’, Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town, South Africa

2011

‘Sarah, Theodora and Senzeni in Johannesburg’, Gallery AOP, Johannesburg, South Africa

‘New traditions: Louise McCagg & Senzeni Marasela’, A.I.R. Gallery, New York, United States of America

2010

'Beyond Booty: Covering Sarah Baartman and Other Tales', Axis Gallery, West Orange, United States of America

2009

‘Witness’, Gallery AOP, Johannesburg, South Africa

‘Oh my God you look like shit. Who let you out of the house looking like that?’, Sternersen Museum, Oslo, Norway

‘JONGA: Look at Me! Museum of Women, Dolls and Memories’, Deveron Projects, Huntly, United Kingdom

2005

‘Theodorah I-III’, Gallery AOP, Johannesburg, South Africa

2004

'Three Women, Three Voices’, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2002

‘Upstream’, Public Art Project, Amsterdam, Netherlands

2000

‘Fresh’, Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2025

‘The Power of My Hands’, Brazil-France Cultural Year 2025, Sesc Pompeia, Sao Paolo, Brazil

‘Cartographies of Care: Mapping Women’s Everyday Journeys and stories across Pretoria CBD’, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

‘Exploring Place and Practice: Collective Voices from Ellis House’, UNISA Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2022

‘Empowerment’, Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, Wolfsburg, Denmark 2021

‘The Power of My Hands’, Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, Paris, France 2020

‘Witness: Afro Perspectives from the Jorge M. Pérez Collection’, El Espacio 23, Miami, United States of America

‘Ubuntu – Five Rooms from the Harry David Collection’, National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens, Greece

‘Sous le fil’, Les Abattoirs, Toulouse, France

‘Alpha Crucis’, Contemporary African Art, Astrup Fearnley Museum, Oslo, Norway

2019

‘Paris Photo’, Grand Palais, Paris, France

‘Yesterday is Today’s Memory’, Espace Commines, Paris, France

‘I am... Contemporary Women Artists of Africa’, The Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Washington D.C, United States of America

2018

‘Soft Power’, Centre d'art Le Transpalette, Bourges, France

‘Ravelled Threads’, Sean Kelly Gallery, New York, United States of America

2017

'Africa. Raccontare un mondo’, Padiglione d'Arte Contemporanea, Milan, Italy

2016

KIN, HANGAR – Centro de Investigação Artística, Lisbon, Portugal

2015

Johannesburg Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy

2014

‘Nomad Bodies’, Royal Academy of Fine Art, Antwerp, Belgium

2013

‘Trans-Africa: Africa curating Africa’, Absa Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2012

‘Present Tense: Arts of Contemporary Africa’, The Newark Museum of Art, Newark, United
States of America

2011

‘Impressions from South Africa, 1960 to Now’, Museum of Modern Art, New York, United States of America

‘Darkroom: Photography and New Media in South Africa since 1950', Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Richmond, United States of America

2010

‘Dystopia’, Jan Colle Galerij, Ghent, Berlin

‘Translations: Art into Jewelry’, Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2009

‘Unbounded: New Art for a New Century’, The Newark Museum of Art, Newark, United States of America

‘Beauty and Pleasure’, Stenersen Museum, Oslo, Norway

‘Developing Democracy: A New Focus on South African Photography’, Kyle Kauffman Gallery, New York, United States of America

2008

‘Thami Mnyele & Medu Art Ensemble Retrospective Exhibition’, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

‘Black Womanhood: Icons, Images, and Ideologies of the African Body’, Hood Museum of Art, San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego, United States of America

2006

‘Ranjith Kally, Senzeni Marasela, Ruth Seopedi Motau’, Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

‘Erase Me from Who I Am, Las Palmas’, Canary Islands, Spain

2005

‘Click’, Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2002

‘Aids in Africa’, Wellesley College, Massachusetts, United States of America

2001

‘Sample E.C.’, Gertrude Posel Gallery, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

‘Open House Exhibition’, Umeå Arts Campus, Umea, Sweden

2000

‘Margins in the Mainstream’, Namibian National Gallery, Windhoek, Namibia

‘Translation/Seduction/Displacement: Post-Conceptual and Photographic Work. South African Artists, Whitebox, New York, United States of America

‘Porträt Afrika’, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin, Germany

‘Art Region End of Africa’, Listafen Reykjavikur Kjarvalsstadir, Reykjavík, Iceland

1999

Market Photo Workshop Exhibition, Rembrandt van Rijn Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

‘Postcards From South Africa’, Axis Gallery, New York, United States of America

‘Truth Veils’, Getrude Posel Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

‘Family Ties’, Sandton Civic Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

‘Democracy's Images’, Bildmuseet, Umea, Sweden

‘Women's Voices’, Mercedes-Benz Museum, Stuttgart, Denmark

‘Not Quite a Christmas Exhibition', Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

Martienseen Prize Exhibition, Gertrude Posel Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

RESIDENCIES, GRANTS

2009

Deveron Arts Residency, Devon, United Kingdom

2008

Ampersand Foundation & Axis Gallery Residency, New York, United States of America

2004

‘Ten Voices, Ten Years of Democracy’, Public art project of the city of Rome, Italy

‘Public Private’, Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand

2003

‘The Body and the Archive’, Artists Space, New York, United States of America

2002

Upstream Grant, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Thami Mnyele Scholarship, Amsterdam, Netherlands

2001

Kokkola Fine Arts Academy, Vaasa, Finland

Visual Cultures in Dialogue Exchange Programme, Umea University, Umea, Sweden

2000

Artist in Residence, South African National Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

COLLECTIONS

Smithsonian Museum of African Art, Washington, United States of America

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, United States of America

Newark Museum, New Jersey, United States of America

Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, United States of America

Davis Museum and Cultural Centre, Wellesley College, Wellesley, United States of America

Jorge M Perez Collection, El Espacio Twenty Three, Miami, United States of America

K21 Museum, Düsseldorf, Germany

Kadist Collection, Paris, France

ARAK Collection, Doha, Qatar

University of South Africa (UNISA), Pretoria, South Africa

Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

Rand Merchant Bank, London, United Kingdom

BHP Billington Collection, Johannesburg, South Africa

PUBLICATIONS

(2025) The devouring of time in Senzeni Marasela’s art of waiting. Available at: https://read.dukeupress.edu/critical-times/article/8/1/114/400619/The-Devouring-of-Time-in-S enzeni-Marasela-s-Art-of (Accessed: 25 August 2025).

Eyaaz (2025) The arts of Senzeni Marasela and life of Theodorah, The Mail & Guardian. Available at: https://mg.co.za/friday/2025-07-24-the-arts-of-senzeni-marasela-and-life-of-theodorah/ (Accessed: 22 August 2025).

(2025). Senzeni Marasela: My work is rooted in Johannesburg. Ocula Magazine. Available at: https://ocula.com/magazine/conversations/senzeni-marasela-my-work-is-rooted-in-johannes burg/ (Accessed: 22 August 2025).

(2024). Imagining Black Feminist Geographies of Johannesburg Through Senzeni Marasela's Work. Oxfam Policy & Practice. Available at: https://policy-practice.oxfam.org/resources/imagining-black-feminist-geographies-of-johann esburg-through-senzeni-maraselas-621628/ (Accessed: 22 August 2025).

(2023). An Intersectional Reading of Senzeni Marasela's Work. South African Journal. Available at: https://journals.co.za/doi/10.1080/00043389.2023.2250693 (Accessed: 22 August 2025).

(2020). Senzeni Marasela - Artist Profile. Zeitz MOCAA. Available at: https://zeitzmocaa.museum/artists/senzeni-marasela/ (Accessed: 22 August 2025).
Admin. (2025, August 5).

Academic Mpho Matsipa ignites Johannesburg through curating a series of dialogue on soil collaborating with. https://citylifearts.co.za/. Available at: https://citylifearts.co.za/academic-mpho-matsipa-ignites-johannesburg-through-curating-a-s eries-of-dialogue-on-soil-collaborating-with-artists-activists-and-institutions-across-city-spaces/ ?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwL5kH1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHtJbf-C7WlGxkwXPPfSxHFWRHuvjVoDcCLC-DCL oPFUSkt8gnFS3qznMAmB6_aem_MRGqeOEC4TX5nsX8-o57Ng (Accessed: 22 August 2025).

Jonga: Look at Me: Museum of Women, Dolls and Memories (2009)

Unbounded: New Art for a New Century, Newark Museum, Newark (2009)

Grantham, Tosha: DARKROOM: South African Photography and New Media 1950-Present, Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Richmond, Virginia (2009)

Williamson, Sue, South African Art Now, Collins (2009)

Thompson, Barbara. Black Womanhood: Icons, Images, and Ideologies of the African Body, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover (2008)

Perryer, Sophie. 10 Years 100 Artists. Art in a Democratic South Africa, Bell Roberts Pub. (2004)

Bedford, E. Senzeni Marasela. Johannesburg: South African National Gallery.(2001)

Firstenberg, Laurie / Peffer, John: Translation/Seduction/Displacement: Post-Conceptual and Photographic Works by Artists from South Africa, Maine College of Art (2000)

Democracy’s Images: Photography and visual art after apartheid, Bild Museet, Umea (1999)