ArtThrob is a South African online magazine dedicated to contemporary visual art. Founded in August 1997 by artist Sue Williamson, it grew from a one-person project into a national reference point for criticism and debate. As a registered Non‑Profit Company (Reg: 2002/001003/08), it publishes reviews, essays, interviews and opinion that chart the country’s art scene and the work of South African artists on international stages. Its Creative Commons Attribution Share‑Alike licence supports wide circulation of writing and fosters dialogue across the sector.
Beyond publishing, ArtThrob sustains independent arts journalism through Editions for ArtThrob, commissioning limited‑edition prints by leading artists—among them William Kentridge, David Goldblatt, Penny Siopis and Jane Alexander—to fund operations. The publication’s archive spans thousands of pieces, making it a record of post‑apartheid art discourse and a resource for curators, educators, collectors and students.
ArtThrob’s work has been recognised repeatedly: it was a finalist three times in the Arts & Culture Trust Awards, nominated in 1999 for a United Nations prize for best cultural website, and included in the 2000 exhibition Woven Maze curated by Pat Binder in Hannover. Over the years it has helped develop South African art writers; former editors include Sophie Perryer, Sean O’Toole and Andrew Lamprecht. The magazine remains an influential platform connecting local practice to global conversations.