Gumboot Dancers

Ketye, Duke

Duke Ketye ( 1943 – 2002 ) was born was born Orlando East, Soweto. He attended the Lumko Art School in Queenstown and studied under Sister Pientia Selhorst C.P.S. He then moved to Mariannhill where he continued to study with Sister Pientia and Sister Johanna Sen until 1965. In 1977 Ketye renovated some unused buildings at Mariannhill and founded the Mariannhill Art Centre, a gallery and studio space. He portrays the characteristic African postures of both grief and vibrant ecstasy. Apart from the subject matter, Ketye's sense of composition reveals his versatile creativity as an artist and his unusual angles of vision. His work has been extensively exhibited in several galleries in South Africa, USA and the UK.