Seeing Ourselves: South African Portraits Past and Present 
Oude Leeskamer 

At the heart of this year’s offering is Seeing Ourselves: South African Portraits Past and Present, a non-selling exhibition of museum-quality portraiture from private collections that brings together significant works by modernist masters, including Irma Stern’s Young Arab and Gerard Sekoto’s Self Portrait (1947), recently returned from Paris following its inclusion in the Centre Pompidou’s acclaimed Paris Noir exhibition. Works by contemporary artists such as Marlene Steyn, Zanele Muholi and Lionel Smit will also feature, creating a layered conversation about who we are and how we see ourselves. 

Origins & Legacy of Art Jewellery in South Africa 
Oude Leeskamer 

Organised in collaboration with Stellenbosch University’s Creative Jewellery and Metal Design Division, the exhibition Origins & Legacy of Art Jewellery in South Africa explores both the beginnings of South African art jewellery, through pioneering immigrant goldsmiths including members of the Goldsmiths Guild, and its contemporary vitality, with works by 16 innovative present-day artisans. The programme includes a talk, open to students and the public, on Wednesday 15 October at 1pm in the Town Hall (Stadsaal), followed by a walkabout at the Oude Leeskamer. The exhibition coincides with Strauss & Co’s two-part online jewellery auction, Origins & Legacy of Art Jewellery in South Africa (8–22 October 2025). 

Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees Benefit Auction 
Online 

Highly regarded art dealers Heinrich Groenewald and Shona van der Merwe of Reservoir, both graduates of Stellenbosch University, are curating the 4th annual Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees Benefit Auction. The auction features work by celebrated and emerging artists, including Ben Stanwix and Xhanti Zwelendaba, winners of the inaugural Investec Emerging Artist Award at the 2025 Investec Cape Town Art Fair, who are also this year’s festival artists. Bidding opens on Friday 10 October and closes on Monday 20 October 2025. 

Strauss & Co x EasyEquities 

Online 

EasyEquities, gold sponsors of the 2025 Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees, in collaboration with 
Strauss & Co, are encouraging their clients to invest in South Africa’s creative economy. 
EasyEquities clients will have the amount of their buyer’s premium (up to R2 000 per lot) deposited into their EasyEquities account for both the Origins & Legacy of Art Jewellery in South Africa auction and the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees Benefit Auction.  
 
Ts&Cs apply. EasyEquities is an authorized FSP (FSP22588), a registered credit provider (NCRCP12294) and a licensed ODP (ODP44).  

 
Strauss & Co Exhibition  

Seeing Ourselves: South African Portraits Past and Present 

11 – 19 October 2025, 09:00 – 17:00  

Oude Leeskamer, 182 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch 

Free  

Strauss & Co | haneem@straussart.co.za | 076 242 5112 

TOYOTA STELLENBOSCH WOORDFEES  

BENEFIT ONLINE AUCTION  

In-person viewing from 10 – 19 October 2025, 10:00 – 18:00  

Stellenbosch Town Hall, 26 Andringa Street 

Online www.straussart.co.za  

Free  

Strauss & Co | haneem@straussart.co.za | 076 242 5112 

CURATORS’ WALKABOUTS  

TOYOTA STELLENBOSCH WOORDFEES BENEFIT AUCTION 

14, 15 & 16 October 2025,  

15:00 – 16:00 

The Stellenbosch Town Hall, 26 Andringa Street 

Free – RSVP CLICK HERE 

Strauss & Co | haneem@straussart.co.za | 076 242 5112 

Venice | Paris | Stellenbosch 

TRAVELLING SEKOTO RETURNS HOME  

CONDUCTED BY Lizelle Kilbourn 

Monday, 13 October 2025, 11:00 – 12:00 

Oude Leeskamer, 182 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch 

CLICK HERE – R100 @ www.quicket.co.za | R150 at the door  

Strauss & Co | haneem@straussart.co.za | 076 242 5112 

MASTERCLASS ON IRMA STERN 

LEADING MODERNIST ARTIST 

CONDUCTED BY DR ALASTAIR MEREDITH 

Tuesday, 14 October 2025, 11:00 – 13:00 

The Stellenbosch Town Hall, 26 Andringa Street 

CLICK HERE – R100 @ www.quicket.co.za | R150 at the door  

Strauss & Co | haneem@straussart.co.za | 076 242 5112 

THE ART OF COLLECTING:  

WHY YOU SHOULD COLLECT ART, WINE AND JEWELLERY 

A CONVERSATION 

Tuesday, 14 October 2025, 18:00 – 19:00  

The Stellenbosch Town Hall, 26 Andringa Street, Stellenbosch 

CLICK HERE – R100 @ www.quicket.co.za | R150 at the door  

Followed by drinks and snacks. 

Strauss & Co | haneem@straussart.co.za | 076 242 5112 

SOUTH AFRICAN ART JEWELLERY:  

ORIGINS & LEGACY 

with Nina Newmann AND Geraldine Fenn in conversation 

Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 13:00 – 14:00  

The Stellenbosch Town Hall, 26 Andringa Street, Stellenbosch 

Free – RSVP CLICK HERE 

Strauss & Co | haneem@straussart.co.za | 076 242 5112 

KAREL NEL: CLOSE AND FAR 

Thursday, 16 October 2025 

11:00 – 12:00  

Rupert Museum, Stellentia Road, Stellenbosch 

CLICK HERE – R100 @ www.quicket.co.za | R150 at the door  

Strauss & Co | haneem@straussart.co.za | 076 242 5112 

RUMINATIONS – KAREL NEL 

Thursday, 16 October 2025 

14:00 – 15:00  

Oude Leeskamer, 182 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch 

Free – RSVP CLICK HERE 

Strauss & Co | haneem@straussart.co.za | 076 242 5112 

IRMA STERN 

A Modern Artist between Berlin and Cape Town  

Thursday, 16 October 2025 

15:00 – 16:00 

Oude Leeskamer, 182 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch 

Free – RSVP CLICK HERE 

Strauss & Co | haneem@straussart.co.za | 076 242 5112 

SUNSET WALKABOUT WITH FRANK KILBOURN 

Thursday, 16 October 2025, 18:00 – 19:00  

Oude Leeskamer, 182 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch 

CLICK HERE – R100 @ www.quicket.co.za | R150 at the door  

Strauss & Co | haneem@straussart.co.za | 076 2425 112 

LEZANNE VIVIERS  

ART-INSPIRED FASHION SHOW 

Friday, 17 October 2025, 15:00 – 16:00 

Oude Leeskamer, 182 Dorp Street, Stellenbosch 

CLICK HERE – R500 @ www.quicket.co.za | R550 at the door  

Strauss & Co | haneem@straussart.co.za | 076 2425 112 

Includes bubbles and canapés.