William Kentridge was born in Johannesburg, where he continues to live and work today.
He earned a B.A. in politics and African studies in 1976 from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.
From 1976 to 1978 Kentridge studied fine art at the Johannesburg Art Foundation, where he later taught printmaking, and during 1981-82 he completed a course in mime and theatre at L'Ecole Jacques LeCoq in Paris.