The NWU Gallery proudly presented the grand opening of the “I Hope You Dance” art exhibition in the North-West University Main Gallery (Potchefstroom Campus) on June 26.

It was a night filled with singing, good music, good food and exceptional art.

The NWU Gallery, consists of two gallery spaces. In 2002 the NWU Gallery came into existence. Until now, the gallery shared a building with the main university library and the NWU Archive at the Potchefstroom Campus.

The NWU Gallery is delighted to announce its relocation within the North-West University Potchefstroom Campus. Its new home is now in Building F16G, near the Protection Services building. To celebrate this exciting transition, the gallery proudly presents the grand opening of the “I Hope You Dance” art exhibition, curated from the esteemed North-West University Art Collection. This exhibition will be on view until 5 July 2025.

“Many have noted that the new building feels like a gallery. The old building played its part in helping the gallery and the NWU Art Collection grow, but the new building fits the new direction of the gallery much better. The vibe of the building, the layout of the exhibition spaces all encourages you to explore and to anticipate exciting things around every corner. The new location also offers more flexibility for the kinds of activities and events we can host,” Ms. Sheryl Msomi, new curator for the NWU Gallery said.

Life, like dance, is an intricate choreography—woven with movement, rhythm, grace, struggle, and transformation. This exhibition draws deep parallels between the stages of life and the fundamental elements of dance, revealing how we navigate existence with intention, improvisation, and an ultimate bow.

Though only a glimpse into the collection, the works on display represent a century of the university’s dedication to connecting us to our past, celebrating our heritage, and inviting us to contemplate the future we aspire to create, to dance.

“Art isn’t just about aesthetics,” Msomi continues.

“It’s about engagement, expanding how we see the world and pushing push boundaries. At the NWU Gallery, we’re not just curating exhibitions—we’re curating conversations.  Unlike many areas in the university, the art world of the gallery is the one place that is not about knowing or giving the right answer. In a way it is like life, there are more questions than answers, it’s about bringing your personal history to an experience.”

The NWU Gallery can be located at North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Building F16G, 11 Hoffman Street. Potchefstroom.

Look at the pictures here: