Jamal Nxedlana (b. 1985, SA) is an artist and cultural worker. His practice explores how the Black figure is materially and symbolically embodied and embraced in fashion photography; and themes related to subcultures, consumerism, and racialised and gendered identity expressions in postcolonial contexts. He has exhibited internationally in galleries, institutions, and independent spaces. Recent exhibitions include SPECTRUM (2023), his second solo exhibition at No Man’s Art Gallery in Amsterdam; The New Black Vanguard (2022) curated by Antwaun Sargent at Saatchi Gallery in London; and Orlando (2022) curated by Tilda Swinton at the Fotomuseum Winterthur, Switzerland. As a cultural worker, Nxedlana has founded numerous influential independent organisations in Johannesburg where he has been based for the last 14 years. Key among these is Bubblegum Club, a digital platform and culture agency showcasing innovative new work and creating opportunities for emerging cultural workers. He is also a founding member of CUSS Group, a Johannesburg-based collective that has been exploring the hybrid culture of post-colonial South Africa since 2011. CUSS has shown in renowned institutions including Kunsthall Trondheim Norway (2023), Moderna Museet Stockholm (2019), de Young Museum (2017), Berlin Biennale (2016).

Exhibition overview, SPECTRUM, solo exhibition Jamal Nxedlana, photo by Neeltje de Vries