Linda Givon, who founded Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg, has died. Established in 1966, while South Africa was under apartheid, the gallery sought to be a non-discriminatory space at a time when museums served the agenda of the autocratic government. Among the artists Givon championed were Lisa Brice, David Goldblatt, William Kentridge, David Koloane, Sam Nhlengethwa and Sue Williamson, establishing their careers at home and internationally.
Born in 1936, Givon worked at London’s Grosvenor Gallery before returning to South Africa and opening a storefront space on a commercial row in the Hyde Park district of Johannesburg, gradually expanding as adjacent properties became free.
‘Most of the galleries in Johannesburg lauded artists who made pretty scenes of life in the townships,’ Givon told The New York Times in 2003. ‘The white elite who bought these works could believe they were doing their bit for the blacks but were just living with pretty pictures. I decided to go for the artists, when I could, who were confrontational and who were addressing socially important issues.’
‘I was constantly getting into my car and driving down to the cop shop to bail my artists out for pass offenses.’ That is, Black artists who were found not carrying the ‘pass books’ the regime required them to have on them at all times. The gallery was also forced to employ lookouts during private views, should the police turn up and close down the multiracial event.
In 2008, aged 72, Givon sold the gallery to its present owner Liza Essers. Last year Goodman opened its first international outpost in London, maintaining an enlarged Johannesburg gallery and a Cape Town space.
Essers paid tribute over social media on Monday, writing: ‘Linda was a true force of nature, pioneer and patron of the arts. She afforded me an amazing opportunity to take the helm of her gallery and it is my sincere hope to continue to build upon her legacy. The South African and African contemporary art worlds are hugely indebted to Linda for her vision and unwavering stewardship. She will be sorely missed’.
