Galleries won’t sell convicted artist
ARTIST Zwelethu Mthethwa, who has been found guilty of murder, is facing more than just legal troubles.
A number of South African galleries have opted not to continue displaying or selling the acclaimed artist’s work, with many of his pieces already being returned.
And his attorney, William Booth, says it may also be an “uphill battle” for the artist to be allowed to create art in jail.
The news comes just days before Mthethwa is scheduled to face sentencing on Thursday for the 2013 murder of sex worker Nokuphila Kumalo. In March, the Western Cape High Court found Mthethwa found guilty of her murder.
Speaking to Weekend Argus, Booth said he believed Judge Patricia Goliath was “incor rect” in convicting Mthethwa for murder.
“I am going to be applying for leave to appeal against his conviction. I will be also be applying for bail to be fixed for him pending the finalisation of his appeal,” Booth said. Mthethwa remains in custody, after two failed bail applications.
Booth said if he failed with both the bail appeal and leave to appeal against Mthethwa’s conviction, he hoped the artist would be granted permission to continue with his artworks whilst incarcerated. “But I don’t know what they will allow and what they won’t allow.”
However, if Mthethwa is able to produce work in jail, he may face challenges in getting his artworks sold.
South Africa’s fine art auctioneer, Strauss & Co, has opted to not continue auctioning the artist’s work.
“In a recent board meeting, the directors of Strauss & Co decided that the company would not be auctioning works by Zwelethu Mthethwa until further notice,” said marketing and advertising officer, Bina Genovese.
Booth said that in spite of local galleries being unwilling to display or sell Mthethwa’s art, some of his pieces remained f eatures in i nter national galleries.