Mpenja

Mpenja is a collaboration between husband and wife artists Frances Schandera and Everett Duarte. Frances obtained a Master's Degree from the University of Fine Art in Dresden. Her prior studies were done at the University of Applied Arts in Schneeburg, Germany. Everett first studied graphic art in South Africa. He later completed his fine art studies at the University of Fine Art in Dresden Germany. Both artists live and work in South Africa and Germany. Mpenja is found in private and corporate collections in Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, England and recently the artists exhibited in Germany and Switzerland by invitation. In June 2008, Everett and Frances exhibited along with a selection of very well known artists in Frankfurt and the combination, along with an African festival, was very well received. The following two shows were in Bern Switzerland in September, both exhibitions proving to be of great interest to the cultural and art scene in the area. The experience of exhibiting in a castle added a sense of drama to the show. In February 2009 they returned to Bern for a selected exhibition in Galerie Pappilon which proved to be the most successful. In June 2009 Everett and Frances will return to Frankfurt for a new exhibition in the Heistand Wine Estate on the Rhine.