Soweto born Melissa Goba is an artist, writer, curator and producer who has worked in various capacities in the visual arts industry. She holds a postgraduate Fine Arts Degree from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Goba has written for various publications including Art South Africa, Elle Magazine and Spana! (Sweden) and has also consulted on publications like Sam Nhlengethwa’s monograph; Percy Konqobe Exhibition catalogue as well as the 2010 FIFA Exhibition catalogue titled SPace: Currencies in Contemporary African Art.
Goba has curated and co-curated various projects including: Jive Soweto! (A Homage to Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse and Soweto – 2007), The MTN New Contemporaries (2008), Domestic (2009) and SPace: Currencies in Contemporary African Art . Goba was artist Marina Abramovic’s curatorial assistant during her visit South African project in 2005. Goba has also held the position of curator for the Constitutional Court Art Collection and has also mentored artists looking to forge a new path in the arts industry.
Goba has consulted for Murray & Roberts on the start of their art collection, which features works exclusively made by South African women artists, while also consulting for such artist awards and collections as the Standard Bank Young Artist, ABSA L’atelier, SASOL Wax Award, Johannesburg Art Gallery Collection, the Telkom Art Collection, and the Joburg Fringe.
Goba has also sat on various competitions panels including the Public Art Programme Commission initiated by the City of Johannesburg through the local department of Arts, Sports and Recreation Department as well as the National Arts Festival committee. She held the position of Chairperson of the Arts and Culture Trust (ACT).
As an artist, Goba uses abstraction to process significant events and dreams with a view to understanding and considering an alternative perspective to South African narratives.
To watch Melissa Goba talk at the launch event, click HERE