BNAP Foundation Celebrates 10th Anniversary with 2026 Art Prize Winners and Landmark JSE Partnership
Johannesburg, South Africa — The BNAP Foundation marked a decade of transformative impact in the visual arts last night, hosting the 2026 Blessing Ngobeni Art Prize (BNAP) awards ceremony at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The evening served as a double celebration, commemorating the foundation’s 10th anniversary and the growing success of its collaboration with the JSE’s Corporate Social Investment programme. To honor this milestone, the foundation presented From the Margins to the Centre, a group exhibition featuring ten shortlisted finalists. This exhibition highlighted the foundation’s core mission of elevating emerging voices into the mainstream art ecosystem. The partnership with the JSE, now in its third year, also saw the successful continuation of the JSE Acquisition Prize, an initiative that has supported over 30 artists since 2024 and facilitated their entry into prestigious platforms like the Latitudes Art Fair.
The 2026 Laureates
The evening’s top honors were awarded to two exceptional young talents. Khakhalethu Gxiya (b. 2002) was named the winner of the 2026 Blessing Ngobeni Art Prize. Originally from eKomani in the Eastern Cape, the Rhodes University graduate impressed the jury with his profound exploration of "liminality." His oil paintings, characterized by gestural and ethereal marks, navigate the space between the material and spiritual worlds, heavily influenced by his Xhosa and Christian heritage. As the recipient of the prize, Gxiya will participate in a three-month residency and mentorship programme, leading to a solo exhibition at Everard Read Gallery.
The 2026 JSE Acquisition Prize was awarded to Kamogelo Mosehla, presented by JSE CEO Valdene Reddy. Raised in Daveyton, Benoni, Mosehla’s practice is deeply rooted in the social and sonic textures of township life. His work utilizes improvisation and process-based exploration to address themes of dislocation and the "brokenness of being." His inclusion in the JSE’s corporate collection marks a significant step in strengthening the provenance of emerging South African artists.
A Global Vision for the Future
The ceremony was attended by a broad spectrum of industry leaders, including prominent curators, collectors, and institutional heads. During the event, BNAP Foundation Chairman Blessing Ngobeni reflected on the decade-long journey of the prize, which was founded to provide mentorship and professional pathways for artists who lack traditional access to the industry.
Looking toward the future, Ngobeni announced that the foundation has been invited to participate in the Africa Art Basel Talks Programme in Switzerland. This invitation represents a significant leap onto the international stage, and the foundation is actively calling on patrons and partners to support this global participation.
The 2026 BNAP Awards underscore a critical shift in the South African arts landscape, where artist-led organizations are increasingly moving from the periphery to the center of innovative exhibition-making and institutional change.
About the BNAP Foundation
The Blessing Ngobeni Art Prize Foundation is an artist-led organization dedicated to the professional development of emerging visual artists in South Africa. Through residencies, mentorship, and exhibition opportunities, the foundation seeks to bridge the gap between artistic talent and the professional art market.
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