13th edition of the Investec Cape Town Art Fair comes to town
21 February 2026
Five emerging creatives from the Community, Arts and Culture Development Department’s Emerging Artist Programme (EAP) will showcase their work, gaining valuable exposure while learning from leading industry experts, at this year’s Investec Cape Town Art Fair taking place from Friday, 20 February to Sunday, 22 February 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The department, within the Community Services and Health Directorate, recently held a workshop for the artists whose works will be on display.
The Investec Cape Town Art Fair is the largest international contemporary art fair on the African continent and gives collectors, galleries, curators and artists an opportunity to connect.
The 13th edition, supported by the City of Cape Town, will feature 126 exhibitors from 34 global cities, showcasing the work of over 490 artists.
‘The City is proud to support our emerging artists and to give them a global platform to showcase their talents. It also allows us to foster cultural innovation and nurturing diverse and new talent. The EAP provides early-career artists with an invaluable opportunity to hone their skills and network with others in the art world,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Francine Higham.
The City’s EAP supports under-resourced artists in the early stages of their careers by providing training, mentorship, networking opportunities, and exhibition platforms.
The EAP will join the fair as an educational partner to support professional learning, industry exposure, and meaningful engagement with industry role players.
The third instalment of the EAP booth is titled ‘Debut’, with each of the five artists presenting at their first ever art fair.
‘During this run, the art fair is expecting to welcome around 30 000 visitors who will not only get an opportunity to view the artwork on exhibition, but get to explore some of Cape Town's public galleries and our tourism offerings. The City is proud of its association with the Cape Town Art Fair over the last decade and for its contribution to our local economy as well as elevating the status of African artwork to the global stage,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
Debut offers a unique opportunity to experience new voices in the art world, working across a range of mediums and styles.
Each artist brings their individual vision and fresh perspective to the forefront, creating a dynamic collection that spans diverse themes, techniques, and approaches.
From hyper realism charcoal, oil on board, urban mixed medium, hand beaded textile sculpture, to ink drawings, Debut showcases the innovation and versatility that define the next generation of artists.
Fatiema Wards from Lotus River works on bridal gowns she made to hire in the 90’s adding abstractive beading, almost organic spreading over the satin and lace.
The dress evolves into something new, countless brides have worn it and now it stands on its own, new and unique again.
Ricardo Nieuwoudt’s miniature paintings capture moments, memories and observations the artist experiences in his day. In the evening, Ricardo, who is from Delft, paints from memory of who he has seen in the day. The scale represents how these moments can often be missed unless we pause to appreciate it.
Yonela Nsimbi’s portraits are people in his community of Strand. A focus on hyper realism, Yonela captures a quiet moment of emotion from his subject influenced by the background, that can almost be heard.
From Zonnebloem comes Lona Ndzimande whose portraits gaze back at you, enlarged eyes, elaborate beading and colourful fabric. The gaze is on the viewer in contrast to the gaze many women experience in the real world and on social media.
The drawings of Juan-Ridge Isaacs from Rugby are technical and illustrated. The youngest of the group, he experiments with ink drawings, defining his own unique hand.
Photographs of the artists and their individual works are available here.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
