What is Art Gallery?
An art gallery is a room or a building in which visual art is displayed. In Western cultures from the mid-15th century, a gallery was any long, narrow covered passage along a wall, first used in the sense of a place for art in the 1590s.
Top Art Galleries In South Africa
Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art
Cape Town
One of the most eagerly anticipated openings in not only South Africa but in the entire world, the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art opened in late 2017 to critical claim.
It is currently the largest museum in Africa and also has the largest collection of African art in the world. It houses a plethora of fascinating and provocative exhibitions, with works of art from Cheri Samba, Chris Ofili, Jacki Job, and Liza Lou
Goodman Gallery
Johannesburg
The Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg first opened in 1966 and was founded by Linda Givon during apartheid.
The culturally and historically important art gallery provided a non-discriminatory space allowing for creative freedom for black artists when it first opened (black artists would often masquerade as waiters to avoid arrest) and is still one of the most distinguished art galleries in South Africa.
The Iziko South African National Gallery
Cape Town
With Table Mountain looming in the background, The Iziko South African National Gallery is a must-visit during any trip to Cape Town.
It is South Africa’s national gallery and houses Dutch, French, Flemish, and British works from the 17th to the 19th century. The permanent collection regularly rotates so the museum has a full program of temporary exhibitions, as well as visiting exhibits.
Johannesburg Art Gallery
Johannesburg
Situated in Joubert Park in the central business district of Johannesburg, the Johannesburg Art Gallery (or JAG to those in the know) is one of the largest galleries on the subcontinent. It has over 9,000 artworks in its collection and 15 exhibition halls.
Within the gallery’s extensive collection, you can expect to see a wide array of mediums including paintings, sculpture gardens, photography, ceramics, and permanent collections.