Chris Tugwell was a celebrated South African artist, gallery owner, and passionate collector. In addition to his own successful career as a painter, he dedicated much of his life to supporting and promoting the work of fellow artists through his gallery, once located at the corner of Veale and Fehrson Streets in Muckleneuk, Pretoria.

This exhibition brings together 39 selected works from Tugwell’s personal collection—drawn from the estate he left behind. The pieces reflect both his keen eye and deep appreciation for a range of artistic styles. Some were created by artists he represented, while others captured his imagination through their distinctive creative voices.

Like many of his contemporaries—Adriaan Boshoff, Errol Boyley, Tita Fasciotti, Dino Paravano, Irmin Henkel, and Marie Vermeulen-Breedt—Tugwell painted popular themes such as farm and river landscapes, seascapes, still life compositions, and figural studies. His work often portrayed scenes of rural life, from ploughing fields to fishing by the water.

The collection features works by some of South Africa’s most respected artists, including Walter Battiss, Adriaan Boshoff, Errol Boyley, Carl Buchner, Tita Fasciotti, Irmin Henkel, Michael Heyns, Keith Joubert, Dino Paravano, Durant Sihlali, Cecil Skotnes, Marie Vermeulen-Breedt, and Ephraim Ngatane—each contributing to a rich and diverse portrait of the country’s artistic heritage.