Artist Database

Jane Alexander, born in Johannesburg in 1959, is a prominent South African contemporary artist known for her thought-provoking sculptures, installations, and photomontages. She earned both a Bachelor and Master of Arts in Fine Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1982 and 1988, respectively. Alexander’s work is deeply influenced by the socio-political climate of South Africa, particularly the apartheid era, as exemplified in her early, pivotal work, Butcher Boys (1985-86). Her art often features hybrid figures combining human and animal forms, addressing themes of power, violence, and dehumanisation. Alexander’s work has been widely exhibited internationally, including at the Venice Biennale and the Sao Paulo Biennale, and is housed in celebrated collections like the Tate Modern in London and the Iziko South African National Gallery in Cape Town. Additionally, she is a professor in the Fine Arts Department at the University of Cape Town.