South African superstar William Kentridge is one of the top contemporary artists in the world today, acclaimed internationally, but the Jewishness of his life and work is rarely discussed. Within cultural circles he is considered the peer of David Hockney, and occasionally they explore similar territory (although with utterly different aesthetics). His drawings, tapestries, sculptures and installations are exhibited at the best art galleries in the world, his prize-winning series of animations receive rave reviews whenever shown and he is also an opera set designer and director, his production of Orfeo is currently selling out Glyndebourne, the UK’s premiere opera venue. The son of Nelson Mandela’s lawyer, he brings together the worlds of post-apartheid South Africa and Lithuanian Jewish memory, weaving themes from Jewish texts, ritual, and tradition into work that explores identity, history, and belonging. In this series, in addition to our transatlantic learning between London and California, we will travel from Johannesburg to Lithuania to Rome, exploring how Kentridge’s Jewish heritage informs his artistic thinking. The series will culminate with an online conversation with the artist himself.