Investec Cape Town Art Fair makes the Mother City more colourful

African abstraction reimagined: art performance by Osione Itegboje 

(c) Thekiso Mokhele 

By PETRA MASON March 30, 2025 

‘Cape Town Art Fair is the most authentic and human art fair experience, the most life affirming event of the year’ said American Liz o’Connell over fresh ginger shots at the Hugo Social Club penthouse in Sea Point where we gathered for an afternoon of talks titled ‘On Memory and Place’– an ongoing series of conversations, site activations and remembrance projects conceived by Atlantan African art curator Lauren Tate Baeza. Chaired by Baeza and artist, curator and educator Siwa Mgoboza, moderated by Still Matters / Still Artist Residency founder Ayana V. Jackson, with words by co-sponsor Art as First Responder founder, Ashara Ekundayo.

Framed by the mountainous beauty that is Cape Town, where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet, cradled by surrounding wine farms, the 12^th edition of Africa’s largest contemporary art fair hosted pan-African and international exhibitors with 30 new first-time exhibitors, showcased 124 international exhibitors, presenting works by 500 artists from 58 countries and drew over 30,000 visitors to the destination event.

'The fair continues to maintain a unique balance between local and international galleries, acting as a vital space for discovery, networking and fostering meaningful connections for collectors and galleries from around the world on the African continent," says fair Director Laura Vincenti. “This year’s Investec Cape Town Art Fair invited exhibitors to reimagine the role of art as an interactive and transformative experience, with a focus on artistic process and experimentation.'

The Investec Cape Town Art Fair is now a fixture on the global art calendar, and provides impetus for exhibition openings, galas, and arts related satellite events big and small including the second Stellenbosch Triennale, Iziko South African National Gallery, Norval Foundation and Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa. 

For VIPS, this year’s lineup had an busy programme of guided walks, talks, in-fair and after-hours engagements including live music, emerging talent and diverse artistic practices including ‘Beyond the Frame’ staged by a boundary breaking London / Lagos collective that featured a live performance by artist Osione Itegboje curated by Fabia Alabraba of 16/16 Gallery.

Downtown at HUB Gallery Mozambique born Lizette Chirrime debuted her solo handmade fashion, textured abstractions and textiles presented by Spier Arts Trust whose gracious support adds to the cultural canvas. 

Pro-tip for visitors, stay in central Cape Town, the luxurious Cape Heritage Hotel next to historic Heritage Square is boutiquey and beautiful, and has a courtyard shaded by South Africa’s oldest fruit bearing grapevine. On the walls at the hotels Sisonke Gallery is a solo exhibition by Tharien Smith, art works you can purchase on site. 

The 13th edition of Investec Cape Town Art Fair (20-22 February 2026) will return in 2026. Exhibitor applications will open in May 2025.