William Kentridge

William Kentridge (born Johannesburg, South Africa, 1955) is internationally acclaimed for his drawings, films, theatre and opera productions.

His method combines drawing, writing, film, performance, music, theatre, and collaborative practices to create works of art that are grounded in politics, science, literature and history, yet maintaining a space for contradiction and uncertainty.

Kentridge’s work has been seen in museums and galleries around the world since the 1990s, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Albertina Museum in Vienna, Musée du Louvre in Paris, Whitechapel Gallery in London, Louisiana Museum in Copenhagen, the Reina Sofia museum in Madrid, the Kunstmuseum in Basel and Zeitz MOCAA and the Norval Foundation in Cape Town. He has participated a number of times in Documenta in Kassel (2012, 2002,1997) and the Venice Biennale (2015, 2013, 2005, 1999 and 1993).

Opera productions include Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Shostakovich’s The Nose, and Alban Berg’s operas Lulu and Wozzeck, and have been seen at opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, La Scala in Milan, English National Opera in London, Opera de Lyon, Amsterdam opera, the Sydney Opera House and the Salzburg Festival.

Kentridge’s theatrical productions, performed in theatres and at festivals across the globe include Refuse the Hour, Winterreise, Paper Music, The Head & the Load, Ursonate and Waiting for the Sibyl and in collaboration with the Handspring Puppet Company, Ubu & the Truth Commission, Faustus in Africa!, Il Ritorno d’Ulisse, and Woyzeck on the Highveld.

In 2016 Kentridge founded the Centre for the Less Good Idea in Johannesburg: a space for responsive thinking and making through experimental, collaborative and cross-disciplinary arts practices. The Centre hosts an ongoing programme of workshops, public performances and mentorship activities.

Kentridge is the recipient of honorary doctorates from several universities including Yale and the University of London. In 2010, he received the Kyoto Prize. In 2012 he presented the Charles Eliot Norton Lectures at Harvard University. In 2015 he was appointed an Honorary Academician of the Royal Academy in London. In 2017, he received the Princesa de Asturias Award for the arts, and in 2018, the Antonio Feltrinelli International Prize. In 2019 he received the Praemium Imperiale award in painting in Tokyo. In 2021 he was elected as a foreign associate member to the French Academie des Beaux Arts.

His work can be found in the collections of Art Gallery of Western Australia (Perth), Art Institute of Chicago, Carnegie Museum of Art (New York), San Diego Museum of Art, Fondation Cartier (Paris), Zetiz MoCAA (Cape Town), Norval Foundation (Cape Town), LACMA (Los Angeles), Haus der Kunst (Munich), Sharjah Art Foundation, Mudam (Luxembourg), Musée d'Art Contemporain de Montreal, MoMA (New York), SF MoMA (San Francisco), Castello di Rivoli (Turin), Moderna Museet, Stockholm, MoCA (Los Angeles), Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam), National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne), Johannesburg Art Gallery, MAXXI (Rome), Louisiana Museum (Humlebaek,Denmark), National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa), National Museum of Modern Art (Kyoto), Israel Museum (Jerusalem), Inhotim Museum (Brumadinho, Brazil), Broad Art Foundation, Los Angeles, Centre Pompidou (Paris), Fondation Louis Vuitton (Paris), National Gallery of Australia (Canberra), Tate Modern (London), Sifang Art Museum (Nanjing), Kunsthalle Mannheim, Vehbi Koç Foundation (Istanbul), Luma Foundation (Arles), Museum of Fine Arts (Budapest), Fundaçion Sorigue (Lerida, Spain), Guggenheim (Abu Dhabi), Kunsthalle Praha (Prague) and Amorepacific Museumof Art (Seoul); as well as private collections worldwide.

-- Quaternaire represents William Kentridge globally in collaboration with THE OFFICE PERFORMING ARTS + FILM.

Upcoming dates

Date Spectacle Lieu Ville Pays
2024-12-05 00:00:00-2024-12-07 00:00:002024-12-05 00:00:00 2024-12-07 00:00:00 The Great Yes, the Great No Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts Miami USA
2024-12-05 00:00:00-2024-12-07 00:00:002024-12-05 00:00:00 2024-12-07 00:00:00 Oh to Believe in Another World New York Philharmonic New York USA
2025-02-05 00:00:00-2025-02-08 00:00:002025-02-05 00:00:00 2025-02-08 00:00:00 The Great Yes, the Great No The Wallis Beverly Hills USA
2025-03-14 00:00:00-2025-03-16 00:00:002025-03-14 00:00:00 2025-03-16 00:00:00 The Great Yes, the Great No Cal Performances Berkeley USA
2025-05-21 00:00:00-2025-05-22 00:00:002025-05-21 00:00:00 2025-05-22 00:00:00 The Great Yes, the Great No Grieg Hall Bergen Norway
2025-06-06 00:00:00-2025-06-08 00:00:002025-06-06 00:00:00 2025-06-08 00:00:00 The Great Yes, the Great No Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen Recklinghausen Germany

Past dates

Date Spectacle Lieu Ville Pays
2024-10-18 00:00:00-2024-10-19 00:00:002024-10-18 00:00:00 2024-10-19 00:00:00 Oh to Believe in Another World Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona Spain
2024-07-18 00:00:00-2024-07-19 00:00:002024-07-18 00:00:00 2024-07-19 00:00:00 The Great Yes, the Great No Impulstanz Festival Vienna Austria
2024-07-17 00:00:00-2024-07-17 00:00:002024-07-17 00:00:00 2024-07-17 00:00:00 Ursonate Impulstanz Festival Vienna Austria
2024-07-16 00:00:00-2024-07-16 00:00:002024-07-16 00:00:00 2024-07-16 00:00:00 The Great Yes, the Great No Impulstanz Festival Vienna Austria
2024-07-07 00:00:00-2024-07-10 00:00:002024-07-07 00:00:00 2024-07-10 00:00:00 The Great Yes, the Great No LUMA Arles Arles France
2023-12-02 00:00:00-2023-12-02 00:00:002023-12-02 00:00:00 2023-12-02 00:00:00 Oh to Believe in Another World Wiener Konzerthaus Vienna Austria
2023-11-18 00:00:00-2023-11-19 00:00:002023-11-18 00:00:00 2023-11-19 00:00:00 Oh to Believe in Another World Hong Kong Sinfonietta Hong Kong Hong Kong
2023-11-02 00:00:00-2023-11-04 00:00:002023-11-02 00:00:00 2023-11-04 00:00:00 Sibyl Sydney Opera House Sydney Australia
2023-06-19 00:00:00-2023-06-21 00:00:002023-06-19 00:00:00 2023-06-21 00:00:00 Sibyl Wiener Festwochen Vienna Austria
2023-05-27 00:00:00-2023-05-28 00:00:002023-05-27 00:00:00 2023-05-28 00:00:00 Sibyl Teatro Madrid Madrid Spain
2023-05-12 00:00:00-2023-05-12 00:00:002023-05-12 00:00:00 2023-05-12 00:00:00 O Sentimental Machine Kunstfestspiele Hannover Germany
2023-03-17 00:00:00-2023-03-19 00:00:002023-03-17 00:00:00 2023-03-19 00:00:00 Sibyl Cal Performances Berkeley USA
2023-03-10 00:00:00-2023-03-12 00:00:002023-03-10 00:00:00 2023-03-12 00:00:00 Il Ritorno d'Ulisse HK Arts Festival Hong Kong Hong Kong
2023-03-10 00:00:00-2023-03-10 00:00:002023-03-10 00:00:00 2023-03-10 00:00:00 Ursonate Townsend Center for Humanities Berkeley USA
2023-02-11 00:00:00-2023-02-15 00:00:002023-02-11 00:00:00 2023-02-15 00:00:00 Sibyl Théâtre de la Ville Paris France
2022-11-17 00:00:00-2022-11-20 00:00:002022-11-17 00:00:00 2022-11-20 00:00:00 HOUSEBOY REDCAT Los Angeles USA
2022-10-28 00:00:00-2022-10-29 00:00:002022-10-28 00:00:00 2022-10-29 00:00:00 O Sentimental Machine Roma Europa Rome Italy
2022-10-21 00:00:00-2022-10-21 00:00:002022-10-21 00:00:00 2022-10-21 00:00:00 O Sentimental Machine Bozar Brussels Belgium
2022-09-24 00:00:00-2022-09-25 00:00:002022-09-24 00:00:00 2022-09-25 00:00:00 HOUSEBOY The Centre for the Less Good Idea Johannesburg South Africa
2022-06-29 00:00:00-2022-06-30 00:00:002022-06-29 00:00:00 2022-06-30 00:00:00 Oh to Believe in Another World Teatro Grande Pompei, in the Archaeological Park of Pompeii Pompeii Italy
2022-06-15 00:00:00-2022-06-15 00:00:002022-06-15 00:00:00 2022-06-15 00:00:00 Oh to Believe in Another World KKL Luzern Luzern Switzerland
2022-05-03 00:00:00-2022-05-06 00:00:002022-05-03 00:00:00 2022-05-06 00:00:00 Sibyl Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen Germany
2022-05-01 00:00:00-2022-05-01 00:00:002022-05-01 00:00:00 2022-05-01 00:00:00 Sibyl Ruhrfestspiele Recklinghausen Germany
2022-04-22 00:00:00-2022-04-24 00:00:002022-04-22 00:00:00 2022-04-24 00:00:00 Sibyl Barbican Theatre London UK
2021-11-12 00:00:00-2021-11-12 00:00:002021-11-12 00:00:00 2021-11-12 00:00:00 Ursonate Théâtre des Capucins Luxembourg Luxembourg
2021-11-04 00:00:00-2021-11-05 00:00:002021-11-04 00:00:00 2021-11-05 00:00:00 IL RITORNO D'ULISSE Philharmonie Luxembourg Luxembourg
2021-10-30 00:00:00-2021-10-31 00:00:002021-10-30 00:00:00 2021-10-31 00:00:00 Sibyl Dramaten Stockholm Sweden
2020-06-21 00:00:00-2020-06-22 00:00:002020-06-21 00:00:00 2020-06-22 00:00:00 Sibyl Stavros Niarchos Foundation Athens Greece
2020-05-01 00:00:00-2020-05-09 00:00:002020-05-01 00:00:00 2020-05-09 00:00:00 The Head & the Load Joburg Theatre Johannesburg South Africa
2019-10-18 00:00:00-2019-10-18 00:00:002019-10-18 00:00:00 2019-10-18 00:00:00 Winterreise Kyoto Art Theater Shunjuza Kyoto Japan
2019-09-10 00:00:00-2019-09-15 00:00:002019-09-10 00:00:00 2019-09-15 00:00:00 Sibyl Teatro Dell'Opera Di Roma (Teatro Costanzi) Roma Italy
2019-09-01 00:00:00-2019-09-01 00:00:002019-09-01 00:00:00 2019-09-01 00:00:00 Ursonate Zürcher Theaterspektakel Zurich Switzerland
2019-08-31 00:00:00-2019-08-31 00:00:002019-08-31 00:00:00 2019-08-31 00:00:00 Ursonate Zürcher Theaterspektakel Zurich Switzerland
2019-08-08 00:00:00-2019-08-08 00:00:002019-08-08 00:00:00 2019-08-08 00:00:00 Winterreise Salzburger Festspiele Salzburg Austria
2019-06-08 00:00:00-2019-06-09 00:00:002019-06-08 00:00:00 2019-06-09 00:00:00 Ursonate Holland Festival Amsterdam Holland
2019-05-29 00:00:00-2019-05-31 00:00:002019-05-29 00:00:00 2019-05-31 00:00:00 The Head & the Load Holland Festival Amsterdam Holland
2019-04-18 00:00:00-2019-04-19 00:00:002019-04-18 00:00:00 2019-04-19 00:00:00 Il Ritorno d'Ulisse Opéra Royal Versailles France
2019-04-18 00:00:00-2019-04-19 00:00:002019-04-18 00:00:00 2019-04-19 00:00:00 IL RITORNO D'ULISSE Opéra Royal Versailles France
2019-03-29 00:00:00-2019-04-03 00:00:002019-03-29 00:00:00 2019-04-03 00:00:00 Il Ritorno d'Ulisse Maison de la Danse Lyon France
2019-03-29 00:00:00-2019-04-03 00:00:002019-03-29 00:00:00 2019-04-03 00:00:00 Il Ritorno d'Ulisse Maison de la Danse Lyon France
2019-03-29 00:00:00-2019-04-03 00:00:002019-03-29 00:00:00 2019-04-03 00:00:00 IL RITORNO D'ULISSE Maison de la Danse Lyon France
2019-03-23 00:00:00-2019-03-24 00:00:002019-03-23 00:00:00 2019-03-24 00:00:00 Il Ritorno d'Ulisse Opéra de Vichy Vichy France
2019-03-23 00:00:00-2019-03-24 00:00:002019-03-23 00:00:00 2019-03-24 00:00:00 IL RITORNO D'ULISSE Opéra de Vichy Vichy France
2019-02-07 00:00:00-2019-02-10 00:00:002019-02-07 00:00:00 2019-02-10 00:00:00 Il Ritorno d'Ulisse Teatro Massimo Palerme Italie
2019-02-07 00:00:00-2019-02-10 00:00:002019-02-07 00:00:00 2019-02-10 00:00:00 IL RITORNO D'ULISSE Teatro Massimo Palermo Italy
2018-12-04 00:00:00-2018-12-15 00:00:002018-12-04 00:00:00 2018-12-15 00:00:00 The Head & the Load Park Avenue Armory New York USA
2018-08-09 00:00:00-2018-09-12 00:00:002018-08-09 00:00:00 2018-09-12 00:00:00 The Head & the Load Ruhrtriennale Bochum Germany
2018-07-11 00:00:00-2018-07-15 00:00:002018-07-11 00:00:00 2018-07-15 00:00:00 The Head & the Load TATE MODERN London UK
2016-11-24 00:00:00-2016-11-24 00:00:00 Winterreise Daejeon Arts Center Seoul South Korea
2016-11-22 00:00:00-2016-11-22 00:00:00 Winterreise Lotte Concert Hall Seoul South Korea
2016-11-14 00:00:00-2016-11-16 00:00:002016-11-14 00:00:00 2016-11-16 00:00:00 IL RITORNO D'ULISSE Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts New York USA
2016-05-28 00:00:00-2016-05-29 00:00:002016-05-28 00:00:00 2016-05-29 00:00:00 IL RITORNO D'ULISSE Asia Culture Center Gwangju Republic of Korea
2016-04-14 00:00:00-2016-04-14 00:00:00 Winterreise Palau de la Musica Barcelona Barcalona Spain
2016-04-03 00:00:00-2016-04-06 00:00:002016-04-03 00:00:00 2016-04-06 00:00:00 Winterreise Opéra de Lille Lille France
2016-03-30 00:00:00-2016-03-30 00:00:00 Winterreise Philharmonie de Paris Paris France
2016-03-11 00:00:00-2016-03-13 00:00:002016-03-11 00:00:00 2016-03-13 00:00:00 Winterreise San Francisco Opera SanFrancisco USA
2016-02-15 00:00:00-2016-02-21 00:00:002016-02-15 00:00:00 2016-02-21 00:00:00 Winterreise Fondation Calouste Gulbenkian Lisbon Portugal
2016-01-07 00:00:00-2016-01-09 00:00:002016-01-07 00:00:00 2016-01-09 00:00:00 Winterreise Sydney Festival Sydney Australia
2015-11-19 00:00:00-2015-11-20 00:00:002015-11-19 00:00:00 2015-11-20 00:00:00 Winterreise Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxembourg
2015-09-17 00:00:00-2015-09-19 00:00:002015-09-17 00:00:00 2015-09-19 00:00:00 Winterreise Lotte Concert Hall Seoul South Korea
2015-09-04 00:00:00-2015-09-05 00:00:002015-09-04 00:00:00 2015-09-05 00:00:00 Winterreise Singapore International Festival of Arts Singapore Singapore
2014-11-26 00:00:00-2014-11-26 00:00:00 Winterreise NET Festival Moscow Moscow Russia
2014-11-11 00:00:00-2014-11-11 00:00:00 Winterreise Lincoln Center White Light Festival New York USA
2014-09-19 00:00:00-2014-09-21 00:00:002014-09-19 00:00:00 2014-09-21 00:00:00 Winterreise KunstFestSpiele Herrenhausen Göttingen Germany
2014-07-25 00:00:00-2014-07-26 00:00:002014-07-25 00:00:00 2014-07-26 00:00:00 Winterreise Holland Festival Amsterdam The Netherlands
2014-07-04 00:00:00-2014-07-17 00:00:002014-07-04 00:00:00 2014-07-17 00:00:00 Winterreise Festival d’Aix-en-Provence Aix-en-Provence France
2014-06-09 00:00:00-2014-06-15 00:00:002014-06-09 00:00:00 2014-06-15 00:00:00 Winterreise Wiener Festwochen Vienna Austria