A major exhibition celebrating the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela will open in east London this July to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Soweto Uprising.
Running from 18-24 July at the Between People Gallery at the University of East London’s Docklands Campus, Mandela: A Life’s Journey showcases 16 monumental paintings by acclaimed South African artist John Meyer, charting Mandela’s remarkable journey from rural childhood to global statesman.
Presented by the University of East London in partnership with East London Arts, Between People Gallery, The Blue Sky Network, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture of the Republic of South Africa and Everard Read Gallery, the exhibition offers visitors an intimate portrait of one of history’s most influential figures.
Rather than focusing solely on Mandela’s political achievements, Meyer explores the man behind the icon. The collection captures defining moments from Mandela’s life alongside quieter, deeply personal scenes, revealing his humanity, resilience and enduring hope.
Commissioned by businessman Andrew Dunn and created over three years in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the exhibition has previously toured in South Africa before travelling internationally. Each painting combines acrylic and sand on canvas, creating richly textured works that bring Mandela’s story vividly to life.
The exhibition has been staged to mark the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, when thousands of Black schoolchildren took to the streets to protest against the apartheid government’s education policies. The violent response by police, which left hundreds of young people dead or injured, shocked the world and became a defining turning point in the struggle against apartheid, galvanising international condemnation and accelerating the movement that would ultimately lead to the regime’s collapse. The exhibition also forms part of a wider programme marking Nelson Mandela Day, including the major Trafalgar Square event celebrating Mandela’s legacy and South African culture on Saturday, 18 July.
Alongside the exhibition, visitors are invited to attend a series of free evening In Conversations exploring the legacy of apartheid and the international campaign for freedom.
