Contemporary Art, Africa’s Largest Art Fair, and Cape Town’s Cocktail Culture

Just a month ago, Cape Town was buzzing with excitement as galleries, collectors, artists, and industry insiders from across the globe gathered for the 2025 Investec Cape Town Art Fair (ICTAF) - the largest art fair on the African continent. With over 120 exhibitors, 30,000 visitors, and 10,000 VIPs, the fair reinforced its status as a major platform for contemporary art from Africa and beyond.

This Year’s Theme: PLAY

The theme for this year’s fair was PLAY. From monumental sculptures by artists like Githan Coopoo to intricate tapestries and immersive installations such as Cow Mash’s, galleries and artists delved into both the joyful aspects of play and the deeper societal questions it raises. Cape Town itself became a vibrant hub of activity, featuring curated talks, guided walks, VIP dinners, exhibition openings, and glamorous after-parties.

Mack Brands proudly sponsored the bold Conte Camillo Bar on opening night, hosting an exclusive event at Strangers Club in Sea Point. This intimate gathering brought together gallery representatives and top collectors, and, of course, the negronis were a crowd favoUrite, adding a sophisticated touch to the evening - because Capetonians especially know how to enjoy a good cocktail.

Much like its approach to brand collaborations, Mack Brands’ refined attention to detail elevates both its products and packaging into an art form. With artistic inspiration at its core, the brand brings together tradition, sophistication and craftsmanship, making each element of its branding an artwork in itself.

Contemporary African Art on the Global Stage

Over the past decade, the African art market has seen a remarkable surge in global interest, reflected in both institutional recognition and record-breaking auction sales. In 2021 alone, global auction sales of art by African artists and those from its diasporas jumped by 44%, reaching $72 million.

This growing momentum is evident in record-breaking sales such as Amoako Boafo’s Orange Shirt, which fetched over $1.3 million at Christie’s Shanghai in 2022, and Julie Mehretu’s Untitled (2001), which set a new auction record for an African-born artist, selling for $9.32 million at Sotheby’s Hong Kong in October 2023.

Beyond auction records, local artists continue to gain major institutional recognition worldwide. South Africa’s Zanele Muholi, for example, recently held a solo exhibition at Tate Modern in London. Meanwhile, institutions like the Norval Foundation and Zeitz MOCAA in South Africa, as well as the Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden in Morocco, continue to champion African artists. Later this year, the Museum of West African Art will open in Benin City, Nigeria, further solidifying Africa’s presence in the global art conversation.

Ziphi I by Zanele Muholi | Presented by Southern Guild
Image credit: Monique Le Roux

Three Key Trends from the Investec Cape Town Art Fair

Much like fashion, art evolves in cycles. Some key themes that emerged at this year’s fair included:

• Material Experimentation: Artists are pushing the boundaries of traditional media by incorporating repurposed industrial waste, organic materials, and innovative textiles.
• Afrofuturism & Digital Art: While digital and NFT-based art platforms have gained traction, this year’s fair showcased little of this work. Many artists seemed to gravitate toward more traditional, tactile mediums, in contrast to global trends.
• Textile & Craft: A renewed appreciation for weaving, embroidery, and fabric-based works is bridging the gap between fine art and traditional craft.

Thaba Nchu by Xhanti Zwelendaba and Ben Stanwix, recipients of the Investec Emerging Artist Award | Presented by RESERVOIR
Image credit: Monique Le Roux

Cape Town’s Cocktail Culture

As the art industry has grown, so too has Cape Town’s cocktail culture, with the two often intertwining. The fair’s official after party venue was the Gin Bar, a local favourite, who curated two exclusive cocktails for art week. 

Whether it’s a fresh Paloma at Blondie’s for lunch, a classic at the Mount Nelson, a drink at Anthm Bar (a personal favorite), or a nightcap at Athletic Club and Social, Cape Town offers a rich cocktail scene that pairs perfectly with the city’s vibrant arts scene.

It’s an exciting time for both artists and collectors in Africa and beyond, with much more to look forward to. Notable exhibitions currently on view include Black Noir at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, exploring the presence and influence of Black artists in France from the 1940s to the 2000s. FEMMES at Perrotin, curated by Pharrell Williams, honors pioneering African American artists Betye Saar and Carrie Mae Weems, alongside esteemed African matriarchs Seyni Awa Camara and Esther Mahlangu. In Los Angeles, Imagining Black Diasporas: 21st-Century Art and Poetics is on view at LACMA. Looking ahead, 1-54 New York will take place in May, as will the Latitudes Art Fair in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Also, be sure to check out the cocktail bars mentioned above next time you visit the Mother City!

Yours in fine art and cocktails. Until next time.

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