What happens when Cape Town’s breathtaking landscapes meet its world-class art scene? The result is a cultural journey unlike any other. Known for its stunning natural beauty, vibrant lifestyle, and rich history, Cape Town is not just a place to visit; it’s a place to experience the heart of South Africa’s creativity. Art lovers will find themselves immersed in a city full of inspiring galleries, exhibitions, and performances that speak to both the soul and the mind.
21 Nettleton is home to the Jankowitz Family Trust Collection—an evolving private collection shaped under the curatorial direction of Hamzeh Alfarahneh, principle at Art(Advisory). “Since 2022, our work with the Jankowitz Family Trust has focused on consolidating the collection’s historical core—anchored by François Krige’s Montagu Series—while expanding its scope to reflect the multiplicity of voices within contemporary Southern Africa,” says Alfarahneh. “Our strategy places particular emphasis on acquiring works from the primary market by artists of colour, whose practices engage with the region’s cultural complexity, memory, and shared futures.”
Artists currently represented in the collection include Sabelo Mlangeni, whose photographic series Isivumelwano and Invisible Woman examine community, kinship, and the quiet resilience of overlooked figures; Lindokuhle Sobekwa, known for his piercing documentation of lived experiences in South African countryside; and Dada Khanyisa, whose multimedia practice captures the layered realities of contemporary Black life in works like O Jewa Ke Eng?
“O Jewa Ke Eng?” – Dada Khanyisa, 21 Nettleton Lounge
To accompany this living and ever-growing collection, we have created an insider’s guide to the Mother city’s must-visit art spaces—many of which are key contributors to the African art ecosystem. These galleries, museums and foundations not only represent or work with many of the artists in the Jankowitz Family Trust Collection but also serve as vital platforms for critical discourse and experimentation.
1. Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA):
Image credit: Zietz MOCAA
The Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa offers a panoramic view of contemporary African art within an iconic architectural setting reimagined by Thomas Heatherwick. With major exhibitions, archival initiatives, and robust education programs, Zeitz MOCAA is a vital public institution shaping the discourse on art from the continent.
2. Stevenson Gallery
Image credit: Stevenson Gallery
A cornerstone of the contemporary scene, Stevenson is known for its rigorous programming and strong roster of artists working across Africa and the globe. The gallery champions conceptual depth and curatorial excellence, making it a vital space for discovering work that challenges, provokes, and endures.
3. Goodman Gallery
Image credit: Goodman Gallery
With roots in South Africa’s liberation-era history, Goodman Gallery remains a leading voice in politically engaged art. The gallery represents a cross-generational roster of influential artists and continues to foster work that reflects on identity, justice, and the complexities of social transformation.
5. Blank Projects
Image credit: Blank Project
Once an experimental space, Blank Project has evolved into one of Cape Town’s leading contemporary galleries. Known for its critically engaged program, the gallery represents emerging and established artists from Southern Africa and the diaspora, with a focus on conceptually driven and abstract practices.
6. WHATIFTHEWORLD
Image credit: WHATIFTHEWORLD
Presenting conceptually driven work that probes the socio-political terrain of contemporary life, and known for nurturing emerging voices, WHATIFTHEWORLD provides an important platform for artists challenging conventional forms and narratives.
4. A4 Arts Foundation
A vibrant non-profit space that functions as both laboratory and archive, A4 Arts Foundation supports experimental practices and cross-disciplinary dialogue. With free exhibitions, an active reading room, and public programming, it’s a space that welcomes slow looking, critical thought, and collective inquiry.
As part of your stay, we offer exclusive access to local galleries, private viewings, and curated art tours to ensure you fully immerse yourself in Cape Town’s vibrant art scene. Ready to dive deeper into Cape Town’s vibrant arts? Join us and embark on a creative journey that transcends the ordinary.
