William Kentridge and the work series that shaped contemporary drawing

William Kentridge has built a distinctive position with his charcoal animations, operatic collaborations and politically charged installations. This overview traces his key work series, institutional presence and market trajectory without leaning on a single current event.

From the AD HOC NEWS Art Desk » Work Series & Retrospective Desk - The editors cover exhibitions, auctions, collections, prizes and artistic positions. Published: July 11, 2026 · Last checked: July 11, 2026, 7:19 PM

William Kentridge is one of the most influential artists working with charcoal drawing and animation today. His cycle of hand-drawn films and large-scale installations around South African history and memory has become a reference point for museums and biennials worldwide.

The drawing-based film cycles

Kentridge's breakthrough came with his series of charcoal animation films developed from the late 1980s onward, which follow recurring characters such as the industrialist Soho Eckstein and the artist Felix Teitlebaum. Each frame was drawn, erased and redrawn, leaving visible traces of previous images and gestures.

This working method connects drawing, performance and cinema in a single process. The films, often projected in exhibition spaces alongside related drawings, stage the political and social transitions in Johannesburg across the end of apartheid and the early post-apartheid period.

Series, cycles and installations

Beyond the early animations, Kentridge has built extended series such as Ubu Tells the Truth, 9 Drawings for Projection and installation-based projects like The Refusal of Time and More Sweetly Play the Dance. These works combine moving images, sculptural elements and sound into complex spatial environments.

The cycles are often conceived for both museum galleries and theater stages, reflecting his long-standing engagement with opera and performance. The recurring return to particular motifs, stories and historical episodes is characteristic of his practice and underpins the retrospective view on his oeuvre.

How the artist works

Kentridge's studio practice centers on large sheets of paper, charcoal, ink and collage. He often works by repeatedly drawing and erasing figures and landscapes, photographing each stage to create frame-by-frame animations that preserve the history of their own making.

The same drawings can reappear in installations, theater backdrops or prints, blurring the line between preparatory sketch and autonomous artwork. This circulation of images across formats is a key element of his position in contemporary art.

Where the artist stands now

William Kentridge continues to be regarded as a leading figure in drawing-based moving image and expanded installation, with museums, collections and curators regularly revisiting his major series and cycles without a single defining event in the current 30-day window.

William Kentridge at a glance

• Artist: William Kentridge
• Medium / Genre: Drawing and animation, installation
• Place(s) of practice: Studio practice centered in Johannesburg and working internationally across opera houses and museums
• Active since: Late 1970s, with key animation series emerging in the late 1980s
• Key work groups: Drawings for Projection, Ubu Tells the Truth, The Refusal of Time, More Sweetly Play the Dance
• Current/last exhibition: Major institutions have repeatedly mounted retrospectives on his film and drawing cycles; specific current shows change regularly and are not tied to a single confirmed date in this overview
• Major collections: Leading museums in Europe, North America and Africa hold examples of his animations, drawings and installations
• Awards: Internationally recognized for his contributions to drawing, animation and theater, with multiple honors from cultural institutions over the past decades
• Next date: currently no announced date in the 30-day window

Frequently asked questions about William Kentridge

Which mediums define William Kentridge's practice?
His work is grounded in charcoal and ink drawing, frame-by-frame animation films, and complex installations that combine moving image, sound and sculptural elements.

What are key work series by William Kentridge?
Important cycles include Drawings for Projection, Ubu Tells the Truth, and installation projects such as The Refusal of Time and More Sweetly Play the Dance, all exploring history, memory and politics.

How is William Kentridge positioned in collections and institutions?
Major museums across continents collect his drawings, films and installations, and curators frequently revisit his work in retrospectives and thematic exhibitions focused on political and narrative approaches to drawing.

This article was produced with a.i. support and editorially reviewed. All statements without guarantee; auction results, exhibition dates and awards may change at short notice.