Seeing Ourselves: South African Portraits Past and Present

Strauss & Co is delighted to announce its Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees 2025 exhibition, Seeing Ourselves: South African Portraits Past and Present.

The focus of the exhibition is on portraiture, a genre that offers intimate and powerful insights into identity, memory, and social change. Seeing Ourselves explores how portraiture in South Africa has evolved from the early 20th century to the present day. The exhibition brings together significant works by modernist masters, including Young Arab by Irma Stern and Self Portrait by Gerard Sekoto, as well as works by contemporary artists such as Marlene Steyn, Zanele Muholi and Georgina Gratrix. Together, these works create a layered and dynamic conversation about who we are, and how we see ourselves.

Set within the intimate and contemplative space of the Jannie Mouton Oude Leeskamer, the exhibition encourages visitors to reflect on portraiture as both a sophisticated artistic practice and a mirror of social transformation. The curation bridges past and present, offering fresh perspectives on an enduring and ever-relevant art form.

Entrance: Free