Remember Avuzwa Noko, the University of Fort Hare (UFH) Master of Fine Arts graduand whose photographic exhibition of abandoned Eastern Cape railway stations earned public acclaim? Well, his story has taken an inspiring international turn.
From Mbizana to the US
Noko has recently been appointed as an Associate Art Auctioneer with Park West Gallery, the world’s largest art dealer, which is based in Michigan, United States.
Founded in 1969, Park West is known for operating galleries aboard luxury cruise ships and has brought the experience of collecting fine art to more than 3 million customers.
Noko, who hails from Mbizana in the Eastern Cape, made a name for himself earlier this year when his solo exhibition, forming part of his master’s studies, was displayed at the Ann Bryant Gallery in East London.
Titled: “A Visual Journey Through Forgotten Railway,” the exhibition featured 20 stunning photographic works that showcase the once-thriving railway stations that connected communities across the Eastern Cape, which are now often abandoned and left in ruins. The expo was covered in the media, igniting conversations around the preservation of historical infrastructure and the cultural significance of forgotten spaces.
Art Meets Opportunity
Sharing the latest development that landed him in the US, Noko said he first applied to Park West Gallery through a LinkedIn post in 2023. Though he successfully passed the initial online interview, financial challenges prevented him from accepting the opportunity. But determined not to give up, Noko applied again when the gallery launched a South African recruitment drive in 2024.
From 225 candidates, only 50 were selected for training, a demanding, elimination-based process, according to him. Noko advanced to the final round but was eliminated on the last day. “I was disappointed but grateful for the experience,” he shared.
However, his determination paid off when Park West Gallery noticed his work after he shared the media coverage of his solo exhibition on LinkedIn. This included articles from Daily Dispatch and Fort Hare News. The gallery reached out, offering him a position directly.
Read the news articles here: Daily Dispatch – https://www.dailydispatch.co.za/news/2025-04-14-exhibit-of-forgotten-train-stations-aims-to-spark-conversations-and-hopefully-revival/ and UFHNews: https://www.ufh.ac.za/news/from-childhood-sketches-to-gallery-walls-ufh-masters-student-exhibits-at-ann-bryant-gallery
By June 2025, he was officially on board, departing South Africa to begin his new career.
“I am grateful for this opportunity; it will certainly change my life and that of my family back home. Indeed, with God, everything is possible, and everything happens for a reason,” said Noko.
He is set to receive his master’s degree during the UFH 2025 Spring Graduation.
Having missed previous graduation ceremonies due to COVID-19 and graduating virtually, Noko is once again unable to attend in person. “The upcoming graduation was going to be my first time walking the stage, but history has repeated itself. But this time, it’s for a good cause. I’m working abroad.”
