Investec Cape Town Art Fair inaugural Investec Emerging Artist Award was awarded to artists Ben Stanwix and Xhanti Zwelendaba represented by RESERVOIR (South Africa) for this collaboration piece titled Thaba Nchu.
Image: Mia Thom
Two Cape Town-based artists Ben Stanwix and Xhanti Zwelendaba have been honoured with the inaugural Investec Emerging Artist Award for a collaborative piece at this year's edition of the Investec Cape Town Art Fair.
Their collaborative piece titled Thaba Nchu, a 2m x 4m textile-based reinterpretation of archival images. This award aims to support emerging artists on the global stage by honouring homegrown, world-class South African artists working in any medium who have yet to be affiliated with an institution, museum or collection.
“At Investec Cape Town Art Fair, we are dedicated to fostering innovation and providing a platform for emerging artists to thrive,” said Laura Vincenti, Director of Investec Cape Town Art Fair. The art fair is recognised as the largest contemporary art fair on the African continent. “These prizes are a significant recognition of artistic talent, and we are thrilled to see these artists' work receive the attention they deserve. It’s an honour to support artists who are shaping the future of contemporary art.”
The overall winner on the night was Cameroonian artist Agnes Essonti Luque who was awarded the prestigious Tomorrows/Today Prize. Recognised as one of South Africa’s most esteemed visual art accolades for emerging and under-represented artists, this distinguished prize celebrates Essonti’s promising artistic journey. It honours the captivating nature of her current body of work and its potential to make a lasting impact in the future.
Essonti Luque, represented by The Over (Barcelona), was selected by an international jury, which included Wim Pijbes, Netherlands (Art Historian), Azu Nwagbogu, Nigeria (Curator) and Gabriel Virgilio Luciani, United States of America (Curator).
Investec Cape Town Art Fair Tomorrows/Today Prize was awarded to Barcelona-based Cameroonian artist Agnes Essonti Luque represented by The Over gallery based in Barcelona Spain. An added highlight for the Tomorrows/Today winner is a cash prize of R80 000, sponsored by Fiera Milano Exhibitions Africa.
Image: Anton Scholtz
Through photography, video, assemblage and performance, Essonti Luque delves into the domestic sphere, exploring the kitchen and the rituals surrounding the preparation and consumption of food. This work extends her contribution to the 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale.
“The 12 finalists were all incredibly strong, which made it a very difficult task for the jury to select the winning artist,” said Nwagbogu. “The jury felt the winning artist’s work embodied a sense of community, vernacular and experimental elements, as well as a diversity of form and media, which allowed us to envision it as a cohesive work. We believe that food is a significant part of our culture and art, yet it’s often not discussed enough. Agnes was able to manifest this concept in a beautiful and subliminal way.”
The twelve artists invited to exhibit in this year’s Tomorrows/Today section represented a diverse range of contemporary practices that reflected current global art trends rooted in identity, socio-political commentary and cultural exchange.
They are Joy Adeboye (Nigeria, 1998), Asma Ben Aissa (Tunisia, 1992), Soukaina Joual (Marocco, 1990), Mareli Lal (South Africa, 1985), Warren Maroon (South Africa, 1985) Georgina Maxim (Zimbabwe, 1980), Mulambo (Brazil, 1995), Anthony Ngoya (France, 1995), Thando Phenyane (South Africa, 1997), Mankebe Seakgoe (South Africa, 1998), Zhenlin Zhang (China, 1998) and Essonti Luque (Spain, 1996).
An added highlight for the Tomorrows/Today winner is a cash prize of R80 000, sponsored by Fiera Milano Exhibitions Africa. Previous winners of the prize include Boemo Diale (2024, Kalashnikovv Gallery), Talia Ramkilawan (2023, BKhz) and Michaela Younge (2022, SMAC Gallery).
Investec Cape Town Art Fair 2025 RDC Acquisition Prize, was awarded to Ibrahim Khatab, represented by Eclectica Contemporary (South Africa) for Talking Walls: Gold 1, 2024.
Image: Mia Thom
In addition, the RDC Acquisition Prize, was awarded to Ibrahim Khatab, represented by Electric Contemporary. This award is awarded to an artist who aligns with the property group’s values and goals, offering them a platform to be exhibited in a prominent landmark building in their portfolio.
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