South African National Gallery, Cape Town

The South African National Gallery is to be found in Company Gardens on Government Avenue and is a popular venue for tourists and locals alike.

The gallery houses one of the most important collections of African, British, Dutch and Flemish art in South Africa from the colonial period to contemporary and indigenous art. The collection of architectural designs and sketches, paintings, photographs, sculpture and textiles is so large that the permanent exhibitions are rotated so that nothing is missed out.

The gallery was founded in 1871 and the first works were those donated by the estate of Thomas Butterworth – a total of 45 paintings. Today the gallery holds thousands. You can admire the works of Anton Van Wouw, Marc Chagall, Neville Lewis, Irma Stern, and William Kentridge among many other artists.

Beadwork plays an important role in the lives of women in many tribes. In 1999 the Bead Society of South Africa was integrated into the gallery and you can learn about the meaning behind some of the magnificent head-dresses, vests and jewelry you will see on display.

The gallery has a very good gift shop where you can buy prints and reproductions, books about colonial and contemporary art, books about beadwork and other souvenirs.

Why You Should Visit:
It's a small gallery and devoted to mainly Afrocentric and struggle art, but it's quite fascinating.
The exhibits are totally different from what one would expect to find anywhere else in the world.
If you like modern art in all its forms you must make time for this.