SANELL AGGENBACH
(b. 1975, Cape Town, South Africa)

Sanell Aggenbach’s work deals primarily with the intersection of history and private narratives by considering the process of recall and interpretation. Her work displays an accomplished virtuosity as she moves comfortably between the various disciplines of painting, printmaking and sculpture.

Since 2003, Aggenbach has focused mainly on subverted feminine tropes and feminist themes. In recent work she subtly and mischievously reframed the hobbyist art of flower arranging by appropriating the traditionally masculine art of Japanese Ikebana. Her sculptural work, primarily in bronze, parodies Western masterpieces from Michelangelo to Henry Moore and Warhol. Aggenbach takes a refreshing look at these pivotal references from a woman’s perspective.

Aggenbach currently lives and works in Woodstock, Cape Town. Her explorative work has secured her many achievements including winning the Absa L’Atelier Award in 2003. Her work is represented in numerous public and private collections, including Sasol, Absa, Spier, SABC, Red Bull (Austria), the South African National Gallery, 21C Museum in Kentucky (USA) and Anglo Gold.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2026

NeonNature, Everard Read, Johannesburg, SA

2025 

PAST LIVES / NEW WORKS, Everard Read, Cape Town, SA

2023 

Nightshade, WHATIFTHEWORLD, Cape Town, SA

2021 

The Great Lulllll, WHATIFTHEWORLD, Cape Town, SA

2019 

The Heart Has Many Rooms, Everard Read, Johannesburg, SA

2017 

Bend to Her Will, WHATIFTHEWORLD, Cape Town/Johannesburg, SA

2015 

Atopia, NWU Gallery, Potchefstroom, SA

2013 

Familia Obscura, Brundyn Gallery, Cape Town, SA

2011

SOME DANCE TO REMEMBER SOME DANCE TO FORGET, Blank Projects, Cape Town, SA

2009

Graceland, Gallery AOP, Johannesburg, SA

2008

Sub Rosa, João Ferreira Gallery, Cape Town, SA

2007

Perfectly Still, Absa Gallery, Johannesburg, SA

2005

Fools Gold, Bell Roberts Contemporary, Cape Town, SA

2003

Blank, AVA, Cape Town, SA

2001

From A Netherworld, Bell-Roberts Gallery, Cape Town, SA

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2025   

Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with Everard Read, Cape Town, SA

2024  

Inner Sanctum, Everard Read, Johannesburg, SA

Winter Collection, Everard Read, Franschhoek, SA

FNB Art Joburg, with Everard Read, Johannesburg, SA

The Night, Mario Mauroner Contemporary Art, Salzburg, Austria 

2023 

If You Look Hard Enough You Can See Our Future, African American Museum, Dallas, USA

2023 

Bitches Brew, Everard Read Johannesburg, SA

2022 

Seeds of the Fig, Reservoir & Whatiftheworld X Krone, Twee Jonge Gezellen, Tulbagh, SA

2021 

Between Strangers, Nuweland Gallery, Netherlands

2020 

Against Interpretation? Everard Read Gallery, London, UK

2020 

Over The Rainbow, Red Bull Hangar-7, Salzburg, Austria

2019 

MERDELAMERDELAMERDELAMERDELAMERDELAMER, curated by Kendell Geers,bMario Mauroner Contemporary Art, Vienna, Austria

2018 

In the Forests of the Night, Everard Read, Johannesburg, SA

2015  

Foreign Bodies, Whatiftheworld, Cape Town, SA

2014  

20 Years of Democracy, Appalachian State University, North Carolina, USA

2012  

Positive Tension, Whatiftheworld Gallery, Cape Town, SA

2012  

Seeing Eye, Brundyn + Gonsalves, Cape Town, SA

2012  

Paint I, SMAC Gallery, Cape Town, SA

2011  

Alptraum, Deutscher Künstlerbund, Berlin, Germany

2010  

Twenty, contemporary public sculpture, Nirox, Johannesburg, SA

2007  

Arcadia, AVA Gallery, Cape Town, SA

2007  

Turbulence, Hangar-7, Salzburg, Austria

2005  

Sweet Nothings, new photographic work, Bell-Roberts Gallery, Cape Town, SA

2004  

2nd Spier Outdoor Sculpture Biennial, Stellenbosch, SA

2003  

YDESIRE, Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town, SA

2001  

Micro/Macro, South African Printmakers at the Xchanges Gallery, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

AWARDS, FELLOWSHIPS

2015 Aardklop Festival artist, Potchefstroom, SA

2009 Ampersand fellowship, New York, USA

2003 Winner of the 2003 Absa L’Atelier, SA

1999 Selected for the UNESCO-Aschberg Residency programme, Sanskriti Kendra, New Delhi, India

PERMANENT COLLECTIONS

Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town
Absa Collection
Anglo Gold South Africa
Hollard Collection
Sasol Collection
Spier Collection
Didata
SABC
Labour 24 Pty Ltd
Red Bull Collection, Salzburg, Austria
New Church Museum
21C Museum in Kentucky

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

2025

Sanell Aggenbach 

2013    

Familia Obscura

2009    

Graceland Catalogue

2007    

Turbulence, Hangar-7, Austria
Sanell Aggenbach Catalogue
Artinvestor, Germany
Art South Africa  Vol. 5, Issue 04; Page 82 (Review)

2005    

Cape Town Month of Photography

2004    

2nd Spier Sculpture Biennale Catalogue
Sasol Art Museum, University of Stellenbosch

2003    

ABSA L’Atelier Catalogue
Art South Africa  Vol. 02, Issue 01; Page 14 (Review)

2002    

Spier Sculpture Biennale Catalogue