Cape Town
A vibrant intersection of diverse cultures and innovative artistic practices
13
Exhibitions
7
Venues
Art & the City in Dialogue
Cape Town's vibrant arts scene is defined by a rich cultural history and institutions like the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) and the South African National Gallery. The city's dynamic gallery districts, such as Woodstock and the CBD, foster a thriving artistic community. Events like the Cape Town Art Fair elevate local art to international prominence, affirming its status as a creative hub on the African continent.
The City as Stage
Exhibitions in Cape Town
The spaces where Cape Town speaks — from major institutional surveys to gallery shows that define the city's contemporary conversation.
What's On
Cape Town — Upcoming Shows
5 shows
Now Showing
Featured Artists
Urban Infrastructure
Cape Town's Art Ecosystem
The institutions, galleries, and independent spaces through which Cape Town produces, hosts, and transmits contemporary culture.
Stevenson Cape Town
Iziko South African National Gallery
Gallery Directory
Contemporary Galleries in Cape Town
A verified directory of Cape Town's contemporary art galleries — each record fetched and confirmed from the gallery's official website.
Africa's most powerful gallery, it has been a crucial platform for artists confronting apartheid and its legacy, making its artists vital voices in global conversations. Under Liza Essers' leadership, it has expanded internationally while maintaining its political engagement.
A South African gallery with a strong focus on both the post-apartheid generation and the legacy of African modernism. The gallery is a key player in the South African art scene, working to build a global platform for its artists while fostering a dialogue around African identity.
A leading gallery from South Africa that has expanded its reach to Europe, instrumental in bringing African artists to global attention. Stevenson's rigorous program balances established names with emerging voices and has been key to Africa's growing prominence in the art world.
Market in Cape Town
Auction houses, upcoming sales, and market-week activity in this city.
Auction Houses
Strauss & Co
South Africa's leading auction house, Strauss & Co is the primary market-maker for South African and increasingly pan-African modern and contemporary art.
Aspire Art Auctions
A dynamic South African house, Aspire focuses on modern and contemporary African art with growing international visibility.
Market Signals
Works on Paper: Including Photographs and International Editions
Aspire Art held an online auction for Works on Paper, including photographs and international editions, which concluded on August 26, 2026.
Competitive bidding drives strong results at Strauss & Co’s Cape Town Evening Sale
A report highlighting strong market results from the September flagship sale, featuring works by Maggie Laubser, Irma Stern, and Penny Siopis.
September ART
Timed online auction offering fine art, closing on 14 September 2026.
Day Sale: Modern and Contemporary Art
Timed online auction featuring modern and contemporary art, open for viewing and closing on 15 September 2026.
Evening Sale: Modern and Contemporary Art
Live virtual auction presenting modern and contemporary art from Cape Town on the evening of 15 September 2026.
LIVE AUCTION IN JOHANNESBURG: Modern & Contemporary Art
Aspire Art is hosting a live Modern & Contemporary Art auction in Johannesburg coinciding with the opening of their new premises at the Trumpet Building in Rosebank. Consignments are invited for the spring sale.
On the Rise
Artists to Watch in Cape Town
Active voices generating signal — emerging, mid-career, and buzzworthy names surfacing in Cape Town's current scene.
Zanele Muholi
Hot ShowingShowing in "Zeitz MOCAA: Archival Whispers of the Southern Coast" at Zeitz MOCAA
Athi-Patra Ruga
Hot ShowingShowing in "Zeitz MOCAA: Tidal Rhythms of the Southern Cape" at Zeitz MOCAA
El Anatsui
Hot ShowingShowing in "Zeitz MOCAA: African Futures" at Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa
William Kentridge
Hot ShowingShowing in "Norval Foundation: Southern Landscapes and Memory" at Norval Foundation
Yinka Shonibare
Hot ShowingShowing in "Zeitz MOCAA: Fabric of African Urban Identity" at Zeitz MOCAA
David Goldblatt
ShowingShowing in "Zeitz MOCAA: Archival Whispers of the Southern Coast" at Zeitz MOCAA
Njideka Akunyili Crosby
ShowingShowing in "Zeitz MOCAA: African Futures" at Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa
Robin Rhode
ShowingShowing in "Zeitz MOCAA: Tidal Rhythms of the Southern Cape" at Zeitz MOCAA
Gallery Scene
Galleries to Watch in Cape Town
The spaces defining Cape Town's current moment — independent, ambitious, and generating signal in the contemporary art world.
Iziko South African National Gallery
Biennale Radar
Part of Biennale Radar's Art & the City in Dialogue series — aggregating live editorial intelligence about how cities and the art world speak to each other.