Fhatuwani Mukheli and Blessing Blaai headline Gallery MOMO’s first Atlanta Art Fair presentation.
South African contemporary art takes centre stage in Atlanta this October, with Johannesburg’s Gallery MOMO presenting Fhatuwani Mukheli and Blessing Blaai at Atlanta Art Fair from 1 to 4 October at Pullman Yards.
The gallery’s first appearance at the fair follows its ongoing participation in EXPO CHICAGO, as well as a presentation of Mukheli and Blaai at Navy Pier earlier this year.
Born in Soweto in 1985, Fhatuwani Mukheli works across painting, photography and film. His distinctive portraiture draws on Renaissance and classical traditions, using monumental figures, dramatic light and earthy reds inspired by his Venda heritage. His large four-panel work A Study of Freedom will feature in Atlanta.
Blessing Blaai, born in 1994 and based in Johannesburg, works across oil, acrylic, watercolour, ink and mixed media. His richly layered paintings combine figuration with symbolic elements such as architecture, birds and domestic objects, exploring memory, environment and emotion. His 2026 mixed-media work Surmount will be presented alongside Mukheli’s work.
For Blaai, Surmount reflects “the reward of one’s perseverance after a period where trials became a norm.”
Founded in 2002, Gallery MOMO represents South African, African and international artists and was named Outstanding Art Gallery at the 2026 National Arts Council Awards. Its international programme has included EXPO CHICAGO, the Venice Biennale, Dak’Art Biennale and the Aichi World Expo in Japan.
With more than 70 galleries taking part, Atlanta Art Fair provides an international platform for Gallery MOMO to showcase two distinctive South African artistic voices.
Atlanta Art Fair
1–4 October 2026
Pullman Yards, Atlanta, USA
www.gallerymomo.com