RMB Latitudes Art Fair is proud to announce the return of INDEX, an annual platform dedicated to championing independent artists.

INDEX reflects RMB Latitudes’ commitment to accessibility in the arts by creating meaningful opportunities for artists outside of the traditional gallery system. The initiative connects independent creators directly with audiences, collectors, and gallerists, to offer them greater visibility and long-term growth potential.

Curated by celebrated artist Bonolo Kavula, this year’s edition is titled Invisible Thread and offers a space dedicated to experimentation and new voices.

About Invisible Thread

Invisible Thread weaves together the work of eight independent artists in a collective exploration of identity, connection, and materiality. Through a range of media – from thread and textiles to sculpture and print – these artists engage in a shared dialogue that celebrates experimentation, vulnerability, and the intricate processes behind their work.

Kavula describes the exhibition as an “axis of proximity,” where artists’ creative visions overlap and connect through shared themes of culture, memory, and selfhood. The notion of scaffolding – a framework of mentorship and support – underpins the show and reflects the ethos of Kavula Art Studio: to uplift and celebrate emerging talent. Perhaps as the sharpest tool at her disposal in this exhibitionary venture, Kavula brings her own experiences within art fairs to several young artists who would be showing at a fair for the first time. As such, working across two cities, Kavula dedicatedly workshops alongside these artists towards a presentation made more meaningful by these lateral efforts. 

Linda Kachingwe-Sisya, Executive of Head Marketing and Communications: Africa and International at RMB adds: “RMB’s purpose is to empower diverse talent to be exceptional together for all to thrive. As a long-standing supporter of both the arts and sports, RMB nurtures environments where creative minds can thrive. Through initiatives like the RMB Latitudes Art Fair, RMB CuratorLab and RMB Collectors’ Circle, we are proud to provide platforms for emerging artists to grow, connect, and thrive – while fostering ecosystems that support creative and professional development across disciplines.”

Meet the Artists of Invisible Thread

Yonela Doda (b.1998, Cape Town) is a mixed media artist whose collage and thread works are informed by catharsis theory, using material to process and communicate emotion.

Thato Makatu (b.2000, Oslo) is a printmaker and cultural producer in training whose practice reflects a growing curatorial voice, informed by academic research and personal expression.

Tshepo Phokojoe (b.1995, Soweto) works across visual art and fashion. His hessian and thread sculptures challenge gravity and explore the possibilities of fabric as structure.

Khanyi Mawhayi (b.1998, Cape Town) is an artist and curator developing a rich visual language around decoloniality and world-building, using oil sticks and thread on canvas.

Dineo Ponde (b.2001, Johannesburg) creates deeply personal narratives using ink and thread on polyester fabric. Her process begins with writing and evolves into visual storytelling.

Unathi Mkonto (b.1982, Peddie) bridges art and architecture, using timber and geometry to reimagine still life and space through the lens of African modernism.

Tinyiko Makwakwa (b.1984, Johannesburg) draws from indigenous African science and storytelling in her layered textile works. She uses natural dyes, embroidery, and beadwork to honour ancestral knowledge.

Bonolo Kavula (b.1992) is known for pushing the boundaries of printmaking with Shweshwe fabric and thread. Her abstract works reflect a meticulous process rooted in repetition and material exploration.