Born in a shtetl outside Warsaw, Kibel left Poland in 1923 to avoid conscription. He initially settled in Vienna, but in 1925 relocated to Jerusalem, later moving to Tel Aviv, where he met Frieda. Dogged by financial hardship, Kibel immigrated to South Africa in 1929. He arrived alone, his pregnant wife despatched to Warsaw due to visa problems. Kibel’s arrival date in Cape Town coincided with the birth of Joseph, who would only come to South Africa three and a half years later with his mother.

This was Hodgins’ favourite painting. It was borrowed from the owner for Hodgins to enjoy and display in his home until his death when it was returned to the owner.

Strauss & Co, Cond Nast House & Garden and Delaire Graff Estate have joined forces to celebrate Cape Town’s second annual Art Fair and show some of the most highly valued art that South Africa has produced, to date.

A collection of superb art from some of South Africas top contemporary artists will be auctioned to benefit the Wildlands Conservation Trust.

A rare and undocumented painting by the celebrated South African artist Stanley Pinker last night set a new world record for the artist when it sold for R3,4 million at Strauss & Co’s auction having been hotly contested between ten telephone bidders and buyers in the packed auction room.

Last week R250 000 was raised at Strauss & Co’s Cape Town auction to benefit three animal charities, namely The Cape of Good Hope SPCA, The Johannesburg SPCA and the Animal Rescue Organisation of the Western Cape.

South Africa is now unequivocally a part of the booming global online art auction market with the opening of Strauss Onlines second online auction this week.

Stanley Pinker’s ‘Camping in the Kouebokkeveld’ (R2 000 000 – 3 000 000), an extraordinary painting that celebrates the ancient and modern artists who have drawn their inspiration from this area, is coming up at Strauss & Co’s 30 June auction at the Wanderers Club in Illovo, Johannesburg.

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens Centenary Year comes to a close in June 2014 and its second century is set to start on a glittering note. A cocktail function followed by an auction of jewellery made especially for the occasion will take place on Tuesday 17 June 2014 at the Old Mutual Conference Centre, Kirstenbosch. The auction will be conducted by Ariella Kuper with the assistance of Strauss & Co.

This week, I was quoted in a Times Live article on the subject of the current murder trial of photographer, Zwelethu Mthethwa.