ABOUT GALLERY
Founded in 2020, Under The Aegis is a curatorial and art advisory company that produces exhibitions and facilitates the relationship between artists, collectors and institutional collections from the African continent and the diaspora. Our programme focuses on the exploration of intersectional African identity, challenging established paradigms and drawing connections between the historical and the contemporary. Conceptually linking historical, traditional, modernist, and contemporary art in Africa, while holding space for a polyphony of ideas and positions that expand globally.
Founded by curator Anelisa Mangcu in Cape Town, South Africa, Under the Aegis is dedicated to fostering connections between artists, collectors, and institutional collections from across the African continent and the diaspora. Under Mangcu's leadership, Under the Aegis aims to empower artists to realize their full potential and challenge societal norms through their work. The company's advisory services provide artists with the support and resources they need to thrive in a competitive industry, while its exhibition production arm creates opportunities for artists to showcase their work on a global stage.
With a commitment to amplifying diverse voices and celebrating intersectional African identities, Under the Aegis represents a new era of inclusivity and innovation in the art world. Through exhibitions like 'BODYLAND: A Site For Contemplation' and the Stellenbosch Outdoor Photography Exhibition, the company invites audiences to engage with thought-provoking themes and explore new perspectives on identity and belonging.
Driven by a passion for social change and artistic expression, Under the Aegis is more than an art advisory service—it's a catalyst for transformation within the global art community. As the company continues to grow and evolve, its founder, Anelisa Mangcu, remains dedicated to leaving behind a legacy of empowerment and inspiration for generations to come.
ABOUT FOUNDER
Anelisa Mangcu: Gallerist and Curator
Anelisa Mangcu is a Gallerist and Curator based in Cape Town. She is the co-founder of The Victory of The Word NPC, an organisation dedicated to developing funding and investment strategies to support and preserve vital cultural institutions, including the historic Lovedale Press. Her commitment to reshaping arts education in South Africa is further reflected in her role on the advisory board of Art School Africa, where she actively contributes to the decentralisation and decolonisation of traditional educational frameworks.
In 2020, Mangcu founded Under the Aegis, a curatorial and art advisory company that produces exhibitions and facilitates meaningful relationships between artists, collectors, and institutional collections across the African continent and its diaspora.
With a remarkable portfolio of over 55 curated exhibitions, Mangcu has presented both solo and group shows at some of the world’s leading art fairs. These include FNB Art Joburg, Investec Cape Town Art Fair, 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in New York, RMB Latitudes Art Fair, and Expo Chicago—affirming her growing international presence and influence.
Mangcu holds an Honours degree in Curatorship from the Centre for Curating the Archive at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town.
In 2023, she was appointed Chief Curator of the Stellenbosch Triennale’s Outdoor Photography Exhibition, titled Freedom, I Dream Up for Myself and Others. The exhibition spotlighted master photographers whose work is rooted in the African continent, offering a powerful meditation on liberation, imagination, and identity.
The year 2024 marked several major milestones in Mangcu’s career. Under The Aegis received the Lexus Critics’ Choice – Best Stand Audience Award at the RMB Latitudes Art Fair, signalling both critical and public acclaim. That same year, she launched her own gallery space in Cape Town and curated her first institutional exhibition—Breeding Ground by internationally acclaimed artist Billie Zangewa—which opened at the Norval Foundation in 2025 and will run through 2026. In May 2025, Under The Aegis expanded its footprint with the launch of a satellite gallery at Here Joburg in Rosebank, Johannesburg.
Mangcu’s curatorial practice is rooted in the exploration of intersectional African identity. Her work challenges entrenched paradigms and draws conceptual connections between historical, traditional, modernist, and contemporary art practices from Africa. She fosters a space for multiple voices and perspectives—offering a dynamic, globally engaged approach to curatorship.