The Investec Cape Town Art Fair reaches a major milestone this summer, marking a decade as the city’s premier event for visual and contemporary art.
Since its inception, the fair has connected artists with galleries and collectors while showcasing fresh ideas and masterpieces in the making.
Produced by Fiera Milano Exhibitions Africa, a leader and one of the world’s leading integrated operators in the exhibition and conference sector, the Art Fair returns to the Cape Town International Convention Center from February 17-19.
The 10th edition of the Investec Cape Town Art Fair will see the participation of 135 new artists, with more than 23,000 visitors and 6,000 VIPs expected.
Cape Town Investec Art Fair
Here are 10 reasons to celebrate the 10th Investec Cape Town Art Fair:
It’s the world at a fair
With the participation of galleries from across southern Africa, as well as sub-Saharan centers, the Investec Cape Town Art Fair has taken on a genuinely continental identity. The galleries represented come from Angola, Tunisia and the Ivory Coast, to name a few.
Over the last decade this has attracted interest from galleries in Europe and further afield looking to connect with the African art market. Today’s art fair combines local and international exhibitors, bringing home the best of both.
time will bend
The organizers have relied on the experience of the main curators to explore the theme of 2023: the notion of time. As you investigate the passage of experience, both personal and social, you’ll see some of the world’s leading practitioners put time into perspective.
Those appointed include independent curator Natasha Becker (San Francisco, USA), art adviser and curator Dra. Mariella Franzoni (Barcelona, Spain), local writer Sean O’Toole (Cape Town, South Africa) and the dealer and art adviser João Ferreira (Lagos, Portugal).
SOLO is flying high
SOLO, a special section of the fair, sheds light on the artistic practices of emerging and mid-career artists working locally and abroad through selected individual presentations. Since its first iteration, when the special feature explored the effects of the digital world on lived realities and artistic creation, it has taken audiences through the inner workings of a generation of artists making waves in the world.
Check out Tomorrows/Today and forever
Officially titled In and Out of Time, the theme of the Investec 2023 Cape Town Art Fair is woven into the main exhibitions, where Becker and Franzoni explore the work of Maya Angelou. still I Rise, a poem about eternal love and suffering. Tomorrows/Today & forever addresses the link between our bodies, minds and social environment; or the affective dimension of our experiences of time, memory, history, imagination, action and desire.
Artists in this section include Joana Choumali (Côte d’Ivoire) from Gallery 1957, Gino Rubert (Mexico) from LAB36+Galeria Senda, Cassi Namoda (Mozambique) from Goodman Gallery, Deborah Segun (Nigeria) from Bode Projects, Talia Ramkilawan (South Africa) by BKhz Gallery, Githan Coopoo (South Africa) by Everard Read Gallery, Micha Serraf (Zimbabwe) by C24 Gallery, Shamilla Aasha (Zimbabwe) by First Floor Gallery Harare, Carla Hayes (Spain) by Reiners Contemporary Art and Rosie Mudge (South Africa) by SMAC Gallery.
There is both ALT and new
The ALT section made its debut in 2022, dedicated to projects that reflect the many ways the art world has had to adapt. By 2023, ALT is dedicated to alternative exhibits and booth formats that reflect how technological change continually impacts the art world.
For this section, we encourage applications from non-traditional galleries, including digital and technology-based projects that offer a new interpretation of the anti-booth.
An event space (meeting)
Art fairs are also great networking platforms, and the Investec Cape Town Art Fair answers the question of how to connect collectors, galleries, art enthusiasts and institutions from around the world. The event, since its debut, has offered all visitors, including seasoned art fair aficionados, a highly personalized experience of the Mother City’s art scene. VIPs can look forward to an exciting program of events both within the fair and throughout the city.
talk of the town
Investec Cape Town Art Fair positions its Conversations series firmly in the present, tackling complex debates within the scope of its business-oriented model. Stimulating panel discussions delve into regional contemporary art scenes and the impact of contemporary African art in the diaspora and beyond. The conversations are not limited to fine art professionals, but also include the experiences of cultural figures, architects, critics, and educators.
Cape Town Investec Art Fair
Cape Town will be transformed (once again) into a living work of art
The Mother City itself can be likened to a major work of art on display during the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with exhibitions and special projects taking place throughout the city. The local art scene is booming and one of the best ways to experience it is by visiting innovative spaces and more traditional galleries. Wherever you go, you can expect to be immersed in diverse, avant-garde and provocative works of art, rich in culture and heritage.
art walks
Guided tours are open to visitors and offer the opportunity to see the fair through the eyes of curators, academics, artists and gallery owners. Stories and anecdotes about what’s on the walls and what’s in the fair add an extra dimension to the experience. In 2023, art walks will extrapolate on the theme of time.
Cape Town Investec Art Fair
You can enjoy the dark and the light in Gallery Night
Gallery Night takes the art fair beyond the venue, giving fair-goers a more comprehensive look at Cape Town’s visual arts scene. Hop on a City Sightseeing double-decker bus from the Cape Town International Convention Center on Friday 17 February and enjoy a vibrant night of galleries from the City Stadium to Woodstock. Buses are available to all fair ticket holders.
Cape Town Investec Art Fair
Information about the Investec Art Fair in Cape Town:
Date: From Friday, February 17 to Sunday, February 19
Venue: Cape Town International Conference Center
Time: 11:00 to 19:00
Tickets: R150 – R460 and can be purchased through web tickets or the official website
