Gerard Sekoto (1913-1993) is acknowledged to be the father figure of contemporary South African art, and is widely thought of as an iconic and inspirational figure. Sekoto came from a leading academic missionary family, and had a good education compared with many of his peers. Art was not formally offered to black students, even in missionary schools of the1920s, so ... Read moreSekoto was forced to teach himself his craft. Sekoto left South Africa in 1947 for France, where he lived in exile for nearly 45 years. While there, Sekoto continued, through his art, to reflect the intrinsic humanism with which his art is associated. The French Government awarded him the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres shortly before his death in 1993. He lies buried at Nogent-sur-Marne, outside Paris. Show Less