Thania Petersen (b.1980, South Africa) seeks to retell and reclaim histories and cultural memory through textiles, multi-sensory performance, and installations. As a direct descendant of Tuan Guru — an Indonesian prince exiled to South Africa in the 1700s by the Dutch — she delves into personal and collective histories. Her work examines the legacies of African and Asian colonial imperialism, contemporary consumer culture, and the myths of Sufi Islamic religious ceremonies.
Petersen’s practice is deeply informed by the histories of the Indian Ocean and Trans-Oceanic memory, tracing the interconnectedness of cultures, migrations, and shared experiences that have shaped her community. Through her exploration of Sufi music and its sonic dimensions, she seeks to liberate oppressive narratives and resist the legacies of colonialism and apartheid. Across her work, Petersen strives to restore histories that have been erased, reclaiming lost legacies and healing the wounds of the past.
Petersen studied at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art in London (2001–03). Her works are in the collections of notable museums and galleries including the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African Art, Washington D.C.; Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, Cape Town; Pérez Art Museum Miami, Florida; National Museum van Wereldculturen, Rotterdam; the Oscar Niemeyer Museum, Curitiba; Tropenmuseum, Amsterdam; Dallas Art Museum, Texas; and 32BIS, Tunis. Petersen has also delivered numerous public art projects, with interventions on the streets of Verona, billboards on Sunset Boulevard, public buses in Brazil, train stations in Japan, and bus terminals in Malaysia. Petersen will be celebrated with a solo show at Blaffer Art Museum in Houston, Texas, in Autumn 2025.