There are art fairs, and then there are moments. The 13th edition of the Investec Cape Town Art Fair was a moment; one where the global art world finally stopped to listen.

This year’s theme was Listen, and for once, the loudest voices in the room were local and proudly African. There was no softening of the edges for international approval. African narratives weren’t tucked into polite corners; they were front and centre.

Over three days, 34 000 visitors feasted with their eyes. From vivid colour palettes that refused to whisper, to intricate illustrations demanding a second glance, and sculptural works that bent perspective.  There was so much to take in. There were paintings and installations that asked you to slow down, lean in, and reconsider what you thought you knew.

It was a celebration of African art in the presence of galleries from Barcelona, Stockholm, Marseille, London, Amsterdam, Lagos, Addis Ababa, Berlin and beyond.

A Living Cultural Forum

With 126 exhibitors from 34 global cities and more than 490 artists, the scale was massive, yet it felt strangely intimate.

As an attendee, this year felt different because the curators truly took the theme seriously. The fair was a living cultural forum.

One minute you were stepping into theatrical installations that felt like someone else’s dream; the next, you were sitting in on panel discussions unpacking big, uncomfortable ideas with refreshing honesty. There were also workshops inviting participation instead of passive nodding.

Topics didn’t shy away from the elephant in the room. The topic “Africa Is a Country” wrestled with unity and difference while the topic “Listening Inward: Intuition, Spirituality and the Unseen in Contemporary Art” leaned into the unseen forces shaping creative practices.

For the “Non-Arty” Person

Let’s demystify the vibe for a second.

You do not need to understand terms like postcolonial deconstruction, liminality, conceptual abstraction or material interrogation to attend an art fair. You won’t be tested at the door.

If a painting doesn’t immediately “make sense,” that’s perfectly okay. Art often reveals itself slowly. Sometimes it’s less about instant clarity and more about quiet curiosity.

Rather than trying to decode every meaning, simply notice what draws you in. Which colour holds your gaze? What texture makes you pause a little longer? Does a piece stir nostalgia, calm, discomfort, intrigue? Those responses are valid because they’re part of the experience.

Art isn’t something to solve. It’s something to step into.

Fashion Was Also on Exhibition

Everyone came to show out, and it was delightful. The crowd felt like an extension of the installations themselves. There was a beautiful, slightly chaotic sense of playfulness in the air.

Creative hippies floated by in oversized linen and artisanal beads. High-fashion regulars strutted in architectural silhouettes. Gallery owners leaned into minimalist black, while influencers mastered structured monochrome.

In a world of fast fashion, this felt like a celebration of personal curation. Every outfit told a story. 

The crowd understood the assignment.

The Winners’ Circle: Voices That Cut Through

While the fair thrived on collective energy, several artists were recognised for work that cut through the noise. The fair’s award winners told human stories that resonated.

Mellaney Roberts, represented by Berman Contemporary, received the RDC Art Collection Award. This acquisition prize guarantees exhibition in one of RDC’s landmark buildings. In other words, winning ensures sustained visibility, and not just a few days of applause.

She described it as a collective win:

“For me, it’s also about taking it back to my community, showing them the appreciation and the hard work that went into excavating their memories, identity, and what land means to us.”

Her words are a reminder that art carries memory. It carries people. It carries land.

The inaugural ORMS International Photography Prize went to Sibusiso Bheka, represented by Afronova. In a world saturated with scrollable images, Bheka’s work reminds us that photography can still be layered, critical and urgent.

“The win for me represents hope and also patience,” he shared.

The prize includes a substantial cash award and a Canon image PROGRAF PRO-1100 printer, enabling museum-quality production. This win comes with an investment in longevity.

There’s a quiet brilliance behind these prizes because they create pathways for sustainability, giving artists the tools and platforms to build careers that endure beyond the fair’s bright lights.

More Than an Event

Art fairs are for the curious, the inspired, the undecided, and the first timers.

You don’t have to buy a painting to participate. By simply showing up, you support a creative industry increasingly recognised as a vital engine for economic growth and social cohesion across Africa.

The 13th Investec Cape Town Art Fair proved that when we pause, reflect and truly listen, we uncover our creative confidence.

So next time there’s an art fair or even when you pass a painting in a quiet gallery; stop and observe. Let yourself be confused. Let yourself be moved.

Be part of the magic.