Since its launch in 2013, the Rust-en-Vrede Portrait Award has established itself as South Africa’s leading celebration of contemporary portraiture.

Inspired by the British BP Portrait Award, it seeks to promote local portrait practice and provide artists with a fair platform. This biennial competition attracts hundreds of entries from across the country, with the Top 40 entries selected from the initial Top 100 for the exhibition.

The award raises public awareness, encourages experimentation with different media and affirms portraiture as a dynamic, evolving practice that reflects personal and collective identities.

The exhibition is open daily from 09:00 to 18:00.