Artist Database

Dean Hutton is a genderqueer trans artist who was born in Johannesburg in 1976. They have worked in various mediums, such as photojournalism, digital, video, sculpture, performance, and print. Also known as Goldendean, their work explores the queer experience, love, social justice, and body positivity/inclusivity. Hutton received a Master of Fine Arts in 2018 from the University of Cape Town as a fellow of the Institute for Creative Arts. Since 2019, they have worked as an interdisciplinary sessional lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand and also teach a variety of courses at Market Place Workshop. They are currently an artist in residence at the University of Johannesburg.

Hutton has participated in several solo and group exhibitions both locally and internationally, including in the 2016 exhibition The Art of Disruptions at the Iziko South African National Gallery. Their work in this exhibit, which contained the text ‘Fuck White People’, was accused of hate speech. However, in 2017, The South African Equality Court dismissed the allegations and upheld freedom of expression. The court acknowledged Hutton's work as a commentary on racism, privilege, and anti-colonialism.