It’s one of our favourite weeks of the year. Artists, collectors, gallery types and many members of the public flock to the Cape Town International Convention Centre for the Investec Cape Town Art Fair. It’s the largest art fair on the continent and it opens on February 21. With more than 120 exhibitors, it is every art enthusiast’s dream, and we love how it has also resulted in a bigger ecosystem of creativity mushrooming across the Mother City in the weeks leading up to the event.
With so much to explore, it’s hard to know where to start – but here’s a useful guide to what to look out for, that we’re most excited to see.
Gallery highlights
The Investec Cape Town Art Fair features an impressive line-up of galleries, including local favourites such as Kalashnikovv Gallery, Goodman Gallery and Southern Guild, alongside international names like Suburbia Contemporary (Spain), The Bridge Gallery (France) and 11 galleries from across the African continent. This year marks a first for the fair, with the debut of Leesaya – Japan’s leading gallery, presenting four emerging Japanese artists. Istanbul’s Anna Laudel also stands out for its dedication to both emerging and established Turkish artists.
On the local front, visitors will be spoilt for choice, with highlights like Art Formes, showcasing contemporary African sculpture and clay, and 16 on Lerotholi, a Langa-based gallery committed to community development, hosting a solo exhibition by Langa-born Mongezi Gum. As always, our friends at Everard Read promise an exceptional stand, featuring works from some of our favourite artists, including Mmakgabo Helen Sebidi and Brett Murray.
It’s all in the curation
For easy navigation, the art fair is organised into several sections. The Main Area features most of the leading galleries, while Lookout is dedicated to non-traditional galleries offering a fresh take on the “anti-booth”. Past/Modern presents work by modern masters, providing historical context to the fair.
Additionally, there are several specially curated sections, each with its own theme. SOLO showcases the diverse ways contemporary artists engage with whimsy, inquiry and exploration, while Cabinet/Trophy invites local and international artists to fill a (trophy) cabinet with works that embody the essence of play.
For the Tomorrow/Today section, artists worked within the loose framework of “Experience. Attempt. Experiment …” The aim was to highlight those poised to become the leading names of tomorrow. The selected artists represent a wide range of contemporary practices, with participants hailing from as far afield as Brazil and China.
A standout local artist involved is Warren Maroon, represented by Everard Read. A Cape Flats native, Maroon uses sculptural works made from found objects to tell powerful stories shaped by his early experiences with violence, gang life and drugs.
As Everard Read Cape Town associate director Lena Sulik says: “We chose Warren because he walks, with seeming ease, a very fine line between threat and tenderness, violence and transformation, resulting in a thrumming tension running through all his sculptural forms.”
Walk and talk
If sipping bubbly and casually browsing art isn’t your thing, and you’re more inclined to soak up knowledge, the art fair’s schedule of expert-led walks and talks will be right up your alley. Don’t miss art writer Sean O’Toole’s “Reimagining Craft through Global Makers and Materials”. It’s a walkabout that’ll take a deep dive into the power of objects and their role in reshaping marginalised materials and crafts.
Two must-attend talks include “The Role of Digital Media and Film in Contemporary Art”, exploring how digital platforms and tech are shaping contemporary art in Africa, and “The Power of Art in Global Brand Collaborations”, examining the growing influence of partnerships between artists and global brands. We recommend signing up to these on the Investec Cape Town Art Fair website ASAP!
An entry point
Prints are the perfect entry point into the world of art buying, because they tend to be cheaper than painting and the likes. The EDITIONS section showcases top print galleries and workshops, specialising in prints, multiples and editions. A standout for us is Joburg’s Artist Proof Studio, a community-based printing school and gallery, featuring works by Mary Sibande, Thokozani Madonsela, Lazi Mathebula and William Kentridge.
Also, don’t miss 50ty/50ty, which has a vibrant collection of limited-edition screen prints created in collaboration with local artists, illustrators and designers, including Githan Coopoo, Gerhard Human and Kylie Wentzel.
Photo op
Acclaimed South African photographer and visual artist Trevor Stuurman is offering an interactive experience for those eager to dive deeper into contemporary art. Known for his vibrant, culturally rich portraits, Stuurman and his publication THE MANOR, are hosting a photobooth, inviting fair visitors to have their portraits taken. It’s going to reimagine African royalty and culture, blending traditional aesthetics with modern fashion to challenge conventional narratives and celebrate the richness of African heritage – and you get to be part of it!
The Investec Cape Town Art Fair takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from February 21-23 2025. Tickets are available from R230 at investeccapetownartfair.co.za.
Top image: ‘Klinkende Simbaal’, 2024, Stephané Edith Conradie, Whatiftheworld. Picture: Supplied.
Sign up to Currency’s weekly newsletters to receive your own bulletin of weekday news and weekend treats. Register here.
