Spier Light Art promises to once again transform the landscape with bold, experimental and thought-provoking installations from South African artists.  

Running from March to April, the event has become a yearly celebration of creativity – playful, provocative, reflective and inclusive. The exhibition offers one of the largest public audiences, attracting more than 13 000 visitors in 2025. 

Submission entries close 21 July 2025. The curatorial team, led by Jay Pather and Vaughn Sadie, will host an online briefing on Tuesday, 17 June 2025, at 16:00. An on-site briefing will be held on Saturday, 5 July, at 10:30. Artists interested in attending should RSVP by sending an email to spierlightart@lightplace.org.  

The curatorial team invites submissions that place Light at the heart of each artwork. Artists are encouraged to experiment boldly and push creative boundaries, with a strong emphasis on innovation and cross-generational appeal.  

While there is no fixed theme, the curators welcomes works inspired by the ethereal and whimsical, pieces that explore technology, engage with contemporary issues facing South Africa, and reflect themes of resilience, enchantment, exuberance and the dynamic environment of a working wine farm. 

Installations are either completely or partially funded and the categories of work may include the following:  

• Site-specific work (designed to be displayed in particular places on Spier Wine Farm)
• Sculptural, object-based work
• Interactive art
• Digital works that foreground technology
• Video art

Submission requirements and process

Expressions of interest must include:

• Artist/collective/studio biographies of all involved (200 words).
• A short overview of the conceptual interests of the work, specifying which category the submission falls under (300 words).
• A concise description of the work, including concept sketches (300 words).
• A description of the use of light in the work (150 words).
• A description of the audience interaction/engagement with the work, but ideally a video (150 words).
• A provisional but realistic and well-considered budget indicating whether it is to be funded entirely or in part by the Spier Arts Trust; and
• Web links to and/or images of the proposed work or, if not already developed, examples of previous work.

Email your expression of interest to the project manager at spierlightart@lightplace.org before 21 July 2025. A more thorough proposal may be requested after the shortlist is announced

About Spier Light Art 2025

Visitors immersed themselves in a world of light, sound, and video at the seventh edition of Spier Light Art, which took place between March and April 2025. A diverse audience interacted with the light, sound, and video artworks exhibited across the farm. Playful, provocative, reflective, and engaging, the installations transformed the working wine farm into an artistic hub buzzing with electricity. 

For ideas on the type of work the Selection Committee is interested in featuring, please refer to last year’s programme. 

The Stellenbosch community and national media consistently praise Spier Light Art for creating a safe and beautiful environment where a diverse audience can come together to celebrate contemporary art. 

Image credit:  Artwork by Berco-Wilsenach 

Wilsenach created ‘Project For The Blind Astronomer’ between 2009 and 2013 in collaboration with Spier Arts Trust’s Patronage Program. This exhibition, or sections thereof, have been shown locally and internationally in prominent exhibition spaces such as The Smithsonian’s Museum for African Art, Newark Museum of Modern Art, Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, Pretoria Art Museum and Spier Wine Farm. You can read more about the artwork here 

Information and images: Courtesy of  Spier