In Discussion with Jana Terblanche
Photo Courtesy of Katinka Bester and Southern Guild
Jana Terblanche is a Director at Southern Guild, where she works closely with artists and collectors to support the gallery’s international program. She focuses on building long-term relationships with collectors, institutions, and patrons across key global markets. Her work centers on championing contemporary African artists and placing their works in significant private and institutional collections. Based in Cape Town, she contributes to the gallery’s exhibitions, art fair presentations, and curatorial development.
UZOMAH: Southern Guild has become a beacon for vibrant creativity and innovation on the African art scene. Southern Guild is known for showcasing both rising and established African artists. In what ways does the gallery maintain this reputation?
JANA: We gravitate towards practices that are distinct and singular, where the artist is actively challenging and expanding the possibilities of their medium. A strong emphasis is placed on material exploration and conceptual depth. This is paired with close collaboration with collectors to build collections that are considered enduring. In turn, this trust allows for the introduction of new voices into established collections. By balancing emerging and established artists, the program continues to center innovation while maintaining depth and continuity.
U: How do African artists benefit from an artistic space like this gallery, particularly as it builds on its reputation?
J: An ever-evolving art market, galleries continue to play a crucial role in providing stewardship, visibility, and access. At Southern Guild, that really comes down to relationships. We work closely with our artists over time, as well as with collectors, curators, and institutions, to create opportunities that might not otherwise be accessible. As the gallery grows, so does our ability to advocate for our artists internationally and to thoughtfully exhibit and place their work in meaningful contexts.
U: What is the director’s most essential responsibility at Southern Guild?
J: A central part of my role is to make sure our artists can pursue ambitious work, and that their practices are presented with clarity and integrity. That involves everything from curatorial oversight and programming to mentorship, building institutional relationships, and thinking carefully about how each presentation fits into the longer trajectory of an artist’s career.
U: In light of that responsibility, which artists best illustrate the gallery’s ethos and its approach to representation?
J: It’s difficult to choose, as each artist brings something completely unique and plays a part in shaping the gallery over time. Two artists I’ve worked closely with at different stages of their careers are Zizipho Poswa and Mmangaliso Nzuza.
Zizipho has a very clear, well-defined vision for both her work and its presentation. Our conversations center on working together to realize that vision in the most intentional way. I’ve learned a great deal from her, particularly in how she approaches her community and the depth of care and intention she brings to that engagement.
Mmangaliso is an incredibly gifted young painter who has built a loyal and engaged following. I really admire how he brings his inner world onto the canvas in a thoughtful and intelligent way. Our time in the studio spans both curatorial dialogue and longer-term thinking around the trajectory and positioning of his practice. I see our relationships with artists as ongoing, rooted in listening and in offering tailored support that allows each practice to develop and flourish.
U: Looking ahead, which upcoming exhibitions excite you most this year, and why?
J: The most exciting current development is the opening of our Tribeca gallery in April. We are opening with two stellar exhibitions by Mmangaliso Nzuza and Usha Seejarim. Mmangaliso’s upcoming solo, Ballad of the Peacock, is his most expansive body of work to date in terms of scale, theme, and form. He has really pushed both the scale and conceptual complexity of the work, creating psychologically charged scenes with a recurring cast of figures that feel both intimate and archetypal. There’s a real confidence in how they hold space, subtly shifting how the viewer engages with the painting.
In parallel, Usha’s exhibition, Used, brings a very different yet equally powerful energy, transforming everyday domestic materials into sculptural forms that interrogate gender, labor, and power. There is a rigor to the work, with repetition and care embedded in each piece, revealing the histories carried within these materials.
Together, they offer a compelling introduction to our New York program, setting the tone for the practices we plan to champion in the space.
U: What is your biggest takeaway from Frieze that you will take with you when planning for next year and other art fairs?
J: Our most recent fairs, Investec Cape Town Art Fair and Frieze Los Angeles, have reinforced that audiences are deeply curious and invested in our program. As we look ahead to Frieze New York and The Armory Show later in the year, we look forward to deepening our connection with New York and continuing to present work that feels both exploratory and rigorous.
About Southern Guild
Southern Guild platforms artists whose work is ambitious, emotionally resonant, and rooted in personal and collective experience. Founded in 2008 by Trevyn and Julian McGowan and based in Cape Town and New York (opening Spring 2026), the gallery is vested in artmaking as a means to claim agency, materialize cultural memory, and envision progressive futures. Working in the spirit of a guild, Southern Guild fosters collaborative, artist-led practices through rigorous engagement with material and process, comprehensive programming, and the GUILD Residency in Cape Town. Recognized for its bold curatorial vision and commitment to material integrity, the gallery presents at leading international fairs and partners with curators, institutions, and museums to deepen its impact and visibility.
For more information about past, current, and upcoming exhibitions, please visit the Southern Guild Website here; the gallery is also available on Artsy, Instagram, and Facebook. To keep up to date on all the latest news from Frieze, sign up for the newsletter here and follow on Instagram, X, and Frieze Official on Facebook.
