The Wits Young Artist Award (WYAA) is supported by the point of order and the Wits School of Arts as a platform for both acknowledging and giving exposure to new and provocative work by senior students of the Wits Fine Art Department. The award consists of three prizes: 1st Prize / R12 000, and two Merit Awards / R6 500 each. The 2021 edition of the WYAA will be curated online and at the point of order to which leading local and international curators, artists, scholars and arts organisations will be invited.

We are pleased to announce the launch of the WYAA ’21 titled, Cruel Optimism. This year's exhibition is curated by Kundai Moyo. All submitted works have been subject to an online selection panel comprised of curator Kundai Moyo and internationally renowned artist Lerato Shadi. Following the selection process, an invited panel of independent jurors - Lady Skollie, Londi Modike and Refilwe Nkomo - will select the winning works, which will be announced at the online exhibition opening.

Selection panel:

Kundai Moyo (Artist, South Africa)

Lerato Shadi (Artist, Germany)

Adjudicators:

Lady Skollie (Artist, South Africa)

Refilwe Nkomo (Director of VANSA, South Africa)

Londi Modiko (Curator, South Africa)