Gerard Sekoto is widely considered the father of modern Black art in South Africa. In 1947, shortly before the formal onset of Apartheid, he left for Paris to seek artistic freedom. There, he became a part of the vibrant Ecole de Paris, living a Bohemian life as both an artist and a pianist.

His work is celebrated for its dignity and profound empathy. Today, Sekoto is a national hero in South Africa, with his works held in the Johannesburg Art Gallery, the South African National Gallery, and the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art.