Gontse Mathabathe

GONTSE MATHABATHE is a South African designer, curator, researcher, and marketing strategist with over eight years of experience in the art sector. She completed her Master's degree in History of Art at the University of Witwatersrand (2020). She completed a Bachelors's degree in Fine Art at the University of Witwatersrand (2016) and also holds a Digital Marketing certificate from the University of Cape Town (2018).

Gontse has extensive experience in marketing and communications in the arts, through her tenures at Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) (Cape Town); Wits Art Museum (Johannesburg); University of the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg); Mma Hogany Clothing (Johannesburg) and; Assemblage (Johannesburg). She also developed and led the first-ever Art and Architecture Audio Tour that unveils unique stories about the Zeitz MOCAA's contemporary art collection and award-winning architecture. Mathabathe currently works at the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC).

As an art historian, she has developed a particular interest in African art, African traditional and contemporary fashion as well as other textile industries. Her research paper, ‘Tracking the Imprints Layered on Ma Xhosa Jerseys: An Investigation of the MaXhosa by Laduma Brand and IsiXhosa Beadwork’ (2015) - was an investigation of the trajectories of beadwork from ’traditional' contexts into the contemporary fashion industry. In her MA dissertation titled: 'Identity Politics in amaXhosa Dress: Perspectives on modernity and public culture in dress in the
context of Post-Apartheid South Africa', Gontse expands on the knowledge base of African garments. Her research focuses on the modifications that AbaThembu' traditional' dress has undergone due to an influx and integration of other African cultures and the influence of globalisation and international fashion trends.

Gontse is the founder of Mma Hogany Clothing, a uniquely South African clothing and lifestyle brand which was founded in 2016. Additionally, she sat on the Advisory Board of Assemblage (2016 - 2019), which advised on the rebranding and future trajectory of the artist-led NGO.