An immersive celebration of South African art is currently on display at The Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa in Johannesburg. Curated by MasterArt’s Ian Coester and Janet Blair, the Saxon Art Affair features 63 works by 23 South African artists, sited throughout the hotel and across its ten-acre grounds. The estate—once owned by Douw Steyn—has been transformed into a tranquil oasis with 53 luxurious suites designed for both leisure and business travelers.
Visitors are welcomed on the main lawn by Mark Swart’s vivid three-dimensional sculpture Red Knot, while Anton Smit’s resin piece Fait appears to rise delicately from a calm reflecting pool. The exhibition includes a diverse range of work: playful sculptures by Guy du Toit; sensitive wildlife paintings by Geoff Hunter; imaginative abstract watercolors by Lambert Kriedemann; richly textured canvases by Fiona Ewan Rowett; striking large-scale jewelry by Paul Stein; and evocative wood carvings inspired by Venda mythology created by artists such as Azwifarwi Ragimana, Azwimpheleli Magoro and Meshack Raphalalani.
The Saxon Art Affair offers a thoughtfully curated route through landscaped gardens, intimate interiors and public areas, allowing guests to experience contemporary South African creativity in settings that enhance the works. The variety of media and approaches—sculpture, painting, watercolor, mixed media and wearable art—reflects the country’s dynamic visual arts scene, from figurative and wildlife traditions to bold abstraction and vernacular narratives.
Beyond the individual highlights, the show underscores how site-specific placement can change the way art is perceived: outdoors, sculptures interact with light, wind and vegetation; indoors, paintings and objects create dialogue with architecture and hospitality spaces. Together the pieces invite both casual viewers and dedicated collectors to pause, reflect and engage with the artworks in a relaxed atmosphere.
For travelers and locals alike, the exhibition provides an accessible entry point into contemporary South African art, making use of the Saxon’s generous public areas and private corners to create moments of discovery. The pairing of art and environment also complements the hotel’s reputation for refined service and discreet luxury, offering guests a culturally rich stay that goes beyond traditional hospitality.
Whether you’re interested in sculptural form, painterly technique or cultural storytelling, the Saxon Art Affair presents a wide-ranging snapshot of talent and creative practice. The carefully selected works by established and emerging artists demonstrate both technical skill and a range of thematic concerns, from myth and nature to abstraction and material exploration.
Plan to spend time wandering the grounds and interiors to fully appreciate the scope of the exhibition. Each work has been installed to invite close viewing as well as contemplative distance, making the show suitable for visitors with limited time and for those who want to linger.
The Saxon Art Affair remains a notable example of how a hospitality venue can act as a meaningful platform for regional artists, bringing together diverse forms and voices in a single, welcoming setting.
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