WATTS INDEXThe canonical database of visual culture

Artists›Santu Mofokeng

Santu Mofokeng

South African, 1956

WA-00035879

PhotographyPhotographyContemporary

Representation

None documented

Institutional Exhibitions

Works in Collection

Assets Indexed

Authority-backed Facts

Publications Referenced

80%

Profile Completeness

Cultural Positioning

Influence Graph

No influence edges encoded yet.

Authority Records (2)

WikidataQ2131453

MoMA

Field Verification (2 fields)

2 cross-verified · 0 single-source

Birth yearDuplicate Merge· 85%✓
NationalityDuplicate Merge· 85%✓

Source Registry (1)

MoMA bulk 2026-05-04https://www.moma.org/artists/72440
Tier 1 · Institutional92%

About

Why this artist matters now

Santu Mofokeng was a South African photographer whose work documented the social and political landscape of apartheid-era South Africa and its aftermath. Working primarily in black and white, he created sustained bodies of work that examined township life, migration, and the texture of everyday experience under structural violence. His photographs are characterized by formal precision and an unflinching attention to human dignity within constrained circumstances. Mofokeng's practice bridged documentary photography and fine art, establishing him as a central figure in contemporary South African visual culture.

Source: Moma Bulk 2026 05 04 · Trust score: 92% · Updated 29d ago

Graph relationships

Taste overlap and adjacency

Movement

Photography

Medium

Photography

Related Artists

12 in graph

Institutional

Museum Collections

Museum of Modern ArtNew York Art Institute of Chicago

Canonical record

Artworks (57)

WattsOS

The Black Photo Album / Look at Me: 1890–1950

1997 · Slide projection with eighty 35mm black and white slides, plus flash drive

6 min., 40 sec.

Museum of Modern Art

Church of God, Motouleng Cave, Clarens

1996 · Gelatin silver print

57.3 × 38.3 cm (22 9/16 × 15 1/8 in.); Sheet: 60.8 × 51 cm (23 15/16 × 20 1/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Pilgrims, DIkgorong, Motouleng, Clarens

1996 · Gelatin silver print

57.3 × 38.2 cm (22 9/16 × 15 1/16 in.); Sheet: 60.8 × 51 cm (23 15/16 × 20 1/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Shebeen, Sewefontein

1989 · Gelatin silver print

Image: 37.2 × 24.9 cm (14 11/16 × 9 13/16 in.); Sheet: 40 × 30.3 cm (15 3/4 × 11 15/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Riding Staff, Johannesburg - Soweto Line

1986 · Gelatin silver print

Image: 25 × 19.3 cm (9 7/8 × 7 5/8 in.); Sheet: 30.4 × 24 cm (12 × 9 1/2 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Supplication, Johannesburg - Soweto Line

1986 · Gelatin silver print

25 × 19.3 cm (9 7/8 × 7 5/8 in.); Sheet: 30.5 × 23.8 cm (12 1/16 × 9 3/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

WattsOS

Overcome/Spiritual Ecstasy from the series Train Church

1986 · Gelatin silver print

7 1/2 × 11 1/4" (19.1 × 28.6 cm)

Museum of Modern Art

WattsOS

Commotion, Johannesburg–Soweto Line from the series Train Church

1986 · Gelatin silver print

7 1/2 × 11 1/4" (19.1 × 28.6 cm)

Museum of Modern Art

WattsOS

Laying of Hands, Johannesburg–Soweto Line from the series Train Church

1986 · Gelatin silver print

7 1/2 × 11 1/4" (19.1 × 28.6 cm)

Museum of Modern Art

WattsOS

Hands in Worship, Johannesburg–Soweto Line from the series Train Church

1986 · Gelatin silver print

7 1/2 × 11 1/4" (19.1 × 28.6 cm)

Museum of Modern Art

WattsOS

The Blessing, Johannesburg–Soweto Line from the series Train Church

1986 · Gelatin silver print

7 1/2 × 11 1/4" (19.1 × 28.6 cm)

Museum of Modern Art

WattsOS

Exhortations, Johannesburg–Soweto Line from the series Train Church

1986 · Gelatin silver print

7 1/2 × 11 1/4" (19.1 × 28.6 cm)

Museum of Modern Art

WattsOS

Riding Staff, Johannesburg–Soweto Line from the series Train Church

1986 · Gelatin silver print

11 1/4 × 7 1/2" (28.6 × 19.1 cm)

Museum of Modern Art

WattsOS

Song, Johannesburg–Soweto Line from the series Train Church

1986 · Gelatin silver print

7 1/2 × 11 1/4" (19.1 × 28.6 cm)

Museum of Modern Art

WattsOS

Leading in Song from the series Train Church

1986 · Gelatin silver print

7 1/2 × 11 1/4" (19.1 × 28.6 cm)

Museum of Modern Art

Opening Song, Hand Clapping and Bells from the series Train Church

1986 · Gelatin silver print

11 7/8 × 17 11/16" (30.2 × 45 cm)

Museum of Modern Art

Landscapes - South Beach, Durban

Gelatin silver print

57 × 38.1 cm (22 1/2 × 15 in.); Sheet: 60.8 × 50.7 cm (23 15/16 × 20 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Ray Phiri, leader of Stimela Music band at Shareworld, near Soweto

Gelatin silver print; edition 1/5

Image: 45.2 × 30.2 cm (17 13/16 × 11 15/16 in.); paper: 50.5 × 40.7 cm (19 15/16 × 16 1/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Outside East London, Eastern Cape

Gelatin silver print

Image: 46.1 × 31.3 cm (18 3/16 × 12 3/8 in.); Sheet: 50.7 × 41.8 cm (20 × 16 1/2 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Zion Christian Apostolic Church Service on the Melville Koppies, Johannesburg

Gelatin silver print

57 × 38.1 cm (22 1/2 × 15 in.); Sheet: 60.8 × 50.7 cm (23 15/16 × 20 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Gully or Sewer in Urban Vente Cartre, Kinshasa

Gelatin silver print

45.2 × 30.2 cm (17 13/16 × 11 15/16 in.); Sheet: 50.5 × 40.5 cm (19 15/16 × 16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Sani Pass, South Africa / Lesotho Border

Gelatin silver print

57.3 × 38.2 cm (22 9/16 × 15 1/16 in.); Sheet: 60.7 × 51 cm (23 15/16 × 20 1/8 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Concentration Camp Graves, Brandfort

Gelatin silver print

38.2 × 57.2 cm (15 1/16 × 22 9/16 in.); Sheet: 60.8 × 50.9 cm (23 15/16 × 20 1/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

Elias (b. 1965) and Francinah (b. 1968) both deceased. Their home is left to the 4 children in Shiluvane, Tzaneen, three of whom are sitting in the front room/Dorah and Athalia who are sitting in the Front Room

Gelatin silver print

Image: 45.3 × 30.3 cm (17 7/8 × 11 15/16 in.); Sheet: 50.5 × 30.3 cm (19 15/16 × 11 15/16 in.)

Art Institute of Chicago

View all 57 artworks →

Artwork sources (2)

57 published of 68 catalogued · 57 with image

Art Institute Chicago
46 published46 img
MoMA
11 publishedof 22 catalogued11 img

Record

Images

Artsy

Art Institute of Chicago

Relationships

Movements2

Photography Contemporary

Collections2

Museum of Modern Art Art Institute of Chicago

Institutional

Representation & Collections

In collection

Museum of Modern Art

New York, US

In collection

Art Institute of Chicago

Record

Exhibitions and timeline

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