Western Cape artists have secured prominent positions in the prestigious 2025 Portrait Award, though the top honour went to Northern Cape’s Malik Mani from Upington for his hyperrealistic pencil drawing ‘Mask’, announced at a gala evening in Durbanville.
Ashley Ogilvy claimed second place with a poignant oil-on-aluminum portrait of District Six elder Joe Schaffers, while Joseph Dolby took third with his vibrant depiction of Rupert Museum director Robyn Cedras-Tobin.
Their achievements highlight the Western Cape’s strong representation in a competition that attracted entries from across South Africa.
The awards ceremony, held on 29 August at Rust-en-Vrede Gallery celebrated both regional diversity and artistic excellence. Ogilvy’s work, ‘Wherever we are, we are Here’, explores themes of resilience and history through its portrayal of the jazz musician holding a photograph on ‘Constitution Street.’ Dolby’s ‘Robyn’ features a distinctive pointillist technique using acrylic paint, framing its subject with vivid floral elements against a dark background.
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According to gallery curator Donavan Mynhardt, this year’s entries demonstrated ‘remarkable variety of mediums and approaches,’ with significant representation from the Western Cape alongside winning contributions from other regions. The judging panel noted the exceptional skill and innovation shown by all finalists.
The Top Six works, including these Western Cape entries, will be exhibited at Rust-en-Vrede Gallery through October 2025, offering local audiences an opportunity to appreciate the national portrait finalists.
While the Northern Cape celebrated its first win in the competition’s history, the Western Cape’s strong showing reinforces the region’s ongoing contribution to South Africa’s visual arts landscape.
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