Few contemporary artists command attention quite like William Kentridge. Known for his powerful fusion of drawing, animation, performance and politics, the South African artist has spent decades creating work that interrogates memory, history and identity with breathtaking clarity.
Kentridge’s signature style, charcoal drawings brought to life through stop-motion animation, reflects the impermanence and fragility of history. Each erased line leaves a ghost behind, making the passage of time and the process of revision part of the artwork itself.
His work is deeply rooted in the legacy of apartheid and colonialism, yet speaks universally. Whether through his acclaimed animated films (Felix in Exile, History of the Main Complaint), sprawling operatic productions (Lulu, Wozzeck), or immersive installations like The Refusal of Time, Kentridge invites viewers into layered narratives that are as poetic as they are political.
A frequent presence at major institutions from MoMA in New York to Tate Modern in London, Kentridge’s influence extends beyond the visual arts. He is also a theatre director, a printmaker, and a master collaborator, often working with dancers, musicians and historians to build worlds that defy traditional categories.
Above all, William Kentridge reminds us that art can be both a mirror and a mechanism, a way of seeing the world more truthfully and imagining it differently.
Whether you’re encountering his work for the first time or returning to it with fresh eyes, Kentridge remains essential viewing in a world still wrestling with the ghosts of its past.
William Kentridge: The Pull of Gravity is now open at Yorkshire Sculpture Park in Wakefield, running from 28 June 2025 to 19 April 2026. This landmark exhibition brings over 40 of Kentridge’s sculptural works to the UK for the first time, including large-scale bronzes, kinetic sculptures, and immersive film installations. Set across YSP’s galleries and gardens, the exhibition explores themes of memory, history, and transformation through Kentridge’s signature blend of visual poetry and political insight. Bold, theatrical, and thought-provoking, it’s a powerful encounter with one of the world’s most important contemporary artists.