South Africa is fast emerging as the African continent’s art and design capital. With its world-class museums, annual art fairs in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and a vibrant gallery scene that has been steadily growing for the last decade, South Africa has become the continent’s art and design hub.
The nation has had to play catch up compared to other art capitals like Dakar, Senegal, or Lagos, Nigeria, where West African artists have had a far greater presence thanks to proximity to Europe. However, since the end of apartheid in 1994, South Africa’s art market has become more professional, with rising numbers of commercial galleries that are more visible at international art and design fairs. Museums and collectors locally and worldwide are increasingly acquiring South African art and design.
The opening of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA) in Cape Town in 2017 drew international attention and further cemented the country’s status as a focal point for artists. The 9,500-sqm, nine-story museum is the biggest public art space to open on the continent for more than a century.
South Africa’s art scene is flourishing and growing. With its world-class museums, vibrant gallery scenes, and annual art fairs, South Africa is fast becoming the African continent’s art and design capital.