The Warehouse Art Museum, 1635 W. St. Paul Ave., will host a new exhibit, “William Kentridge: See for Yourself,” from Friday, July 8 through Friday, Dec. 16.

The exhibit includes work from the internationally acclaimed artist that emphasizes his interactive art and practice, including never-shown-before pieces.

This will be the first exhibition of Kentridge's work in Milwaukee since the 2018 presentation of “More Sweetly Play the Dance” at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Kentridge, who was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1955, is best known for his animated films. The earliest was completed in 1989 and the most recent premiered this year. 

The exhibition begins with early work from when Kentridge was in his twenties, including his first linocuts, etchings, monotypes and screen-printed theater posters. There are also charcoal drawings, etchings and lithographs, and sculptural objects spanning from the 1970s to the present.

Kentridge’s interactive art invites viewers to be involved with the work. This begins when visitors “enter” his studio, where they are invited to see and touch his art. 

Through allegory and metaphor, he responds to the legacies of colonialism and apartheid, remembered and forgotten histories and the passage of time.

“My work is a process of drawing that tries to find a way through the space between what we know and what we see," says Kentridge.

During the show's run, The Warehouse Art Museum will host theatrical and musical performances and lectures, many with international presenters. 

Kentridge, who is also known for his work on opera and theatrical productions, is currently working toward exhibitions at The Royal Academy in London and The Broad Museum in Los Angeles.

Kentridge has received honorary doctorates from several universities including Yale and the University of London. 

“While much of Kentridge’s art is deeply personal and evocative, the outside world also inflects and is reflected in his work,” writes Melanie Herzog, Guest Curator for the exhibition.