Variety Channel

An Artistic Journey Through South Africa

Episode Segments

World Footprints: Martin Britz and Soweto Fine Art

Martin Britz is President and Founder of Soweto Fine Art. He has been working and specializing in the art produced by the fine artists of Soweto since the 1980’s. Martin’s commitment to promote and manage the culture and historical resources of the region, and expose its hidden treasures to the world, led him to resign from the South African police service, long before Apartheid ended. He devoted his life to cultivating relationships with the artists and their families. He joins Ian and Tonya to talk about his own personal journey, and the treasures he has worked so hard to preserve.

World Footprints: Martin Britz Part Two

World Footprints: Martin Britz Part Three

World Footprints: Preserving Art and Culture in South Africa

At a recent symposium at Baltimore’s Galerie Myrtis, a panel of private art collectors, which included Robbye Apperson, Louis Ford, Dr. Acklyn Lynch and Troy Staton, gathered to speak about art in their lives, their travels, and as a force for cultural education, preservation, and philanthropy.

Guest(s) Appearing on this Episode

Martin Britz

Martin George Britz is the President and Founder of Soweto Fine Arts. He has been working and specializing in the art produced by the black fine artists from Soweto since the late 1980’s. As such he has also written the defining book “South African Fine Art – The Soweto School”. This work defines the group of artists as the first legitimate “School Of Art” emerging from the African Continent. Britz has had an intimate relationship with the artists and their families over the years and saw the need to preserve and document their works and their lives for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.

Martin\'s Biography