The University of Johannesburg Art Gallery will be hosting the Sanlam Portrait Award 2017 Top 40 exhibition from 7 February to 7 March 2018. The biannual competition, now in its third iteration, showcases some of the best portraiture in two dimensions in South Africa.
The winning portrait “Genna and Felix” a double portrait in oil by Kate Arthur is accompanied by 39 additional works selected by an independent panel of judges which include Peter Monkman from the UK, a winner of the prestigious BP Portrait Award presented at the National Portrait Gallery in London. He was assisted by Nkule Mabaso, curator of the Michaelis Galleries at the University of Cape Town, and Pretoria bases retired lecturer, Carl Jeppe.
There were some 1400 entries to the Sanlam Portrait Award in 2017 – almost double the 2015 number of entries. The award is organized by the Rust-en-Vrede Gallery in Durbanville, Cape Town and offers a prize of R100 000 sponsored by Sanlam Private Wealth.
The exhibition commences its countrywide tour with showing at University of Johannesburg Art Gallery from 7 February – 7 March. The exhibition will be seen in Durban, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Knysna and George through 2018. The tour is organised and supported by the Sanlam Art Collection.
The opening event takes place on 7 February 2018 at 18 30 for 19:00. The opening speaker is Stefan Hundt, convener of the Sanlam Portrait Award judging panel and curator of the Sanlam Art Collection.