Franschhoek is well known for her award winning wineries and restaurants, the mountains, Huguenots and her natural beauty. But do not forget about the art! Nowadays there are fantastic art galleries in Franschhoek. Over the 5,5 years I lived in Franschhoek, more and more places decided to also open an exhibition area, gallery or museum. I love it! I think Franschhoek has enough now, to be honest, and is in need for a good quality French bistro or an upmarket wine bar more than another gallery, but still: I like the galleries. In this blog post I will give you an impression, scroll down if you’d like to see photos and scroll completely down to use the practical map for road direction!
Fine Art Gallery @ Grande Provence
As long as I can remember (and I come in Franschhoek already for almost 7 years) this gallery at Grande Provence estate exists. In the spacious gallery, there often are different paintings and sculptures. They change quite a lot with their exhibitions. Click here for their website or to find out what’s on.
The Sculpture Garden, part of the Fine Art Gallery of Grande Provence, is always pretty; in spring and fall, summer and winter, it’s always a good idea to go there and see what art is there.
David Walters Pottery Studio
If you ever have dined at Rust & Vrede, Delaire Graff, Jordan or another eat out top 20 restaurant in South Africa, there is a good chance crockery from the hands of David Walters was on the table. Fine dining restaurants and other upmarket bistros or wineries love his work, and I understand why. His ceramics are pretty, and you can go and see it in his studio/gallery. His daughter Sarah is also a ceramics artist and some of her work is also in the studio in Franschhoek. Click here for more information & a full blog post I wrote earlier about David Walters Ceramics Gallery in Franschhoek.
Moór Gallery
Moór Gallery, situated in the heart of the Franschhoek Village in Bordeaux Street, is a quite recent addition to the art galleries in town. Click here for more information and a full review I wrote about this gallery earlier.
Kim Donaldson Gallery
On the small village square called ‘The Yard’ this gallery can be found. Personally this is not my very favourite, but I know a lot of people like the art in this gallery, so that’s why it’s in the list. What I do like about the work here, is that it often has to do with the beauty of Africa; the wildest, purest continent of all. You will often see here pretty wild cat sculptures, or paintings of African women. They do both sculptures and paintings, and it’s just a stone throw away from Moór Gallery, Art in the Yard, and next door to Melissa’s Coffee & Lunch place. Click here for their website.
Art in the Yard
On the location most people will remember as The Salmon Bar, opened a few years back this art gallery: Art in the Yard. I just love the statues of artist Uwe Pfaff and in this gallery they are often on show. The sculptures of the man with the fish on his head is a typical Uwe Pfaff. I also like the two satire Rembrandt paintings a lot. They are good fun! The face of the African woman is pretty too. It makes me think of a Lionel Smit painting, but this one is made by another artist. Click here for the website of Art in the Yard.
Everard Read in partnership with Leeu Collection
This baby is new on the block! After Johannesburg and Cape Town there is a brand new Everard Read Gallery, in Franschhoek! I love Everard Read; they have the most beautiful (and expensive..) art work in the country! Funny detail: They are located next to Le Quartier Français, in the old IS Art Gallery building, what later became the B. Gorgeous gift shop. If you’d ask me this location and building is just perfect for an art gallery. Much better/nicer than the new gallery of IS Art. I don’t know…. The light and whole atmosphere in this (Everard Read) gallery is better than it is in the current IS Art…. Oops! Wrong decision of IS ART to move? Yes, if you’d ask me…. Click here for more information about Everard Read Franschhoek.
IS Art Gallery
IS Art stands for Ilse Schermer Art. She, the owner and curator, loves art and for many years she owns and manages, together with Alisha Erasmus, the IS Art Gallery. First located next to Le Quartier Français, and since a few years they have much more space, next to Foliage restaurant. A spacious gallery and always nice, upmarket en surprising art work. As said before I liked the old location more, but I can understand why they moved as they have more space here. For all information about IS Art, click here.
The Boutique Gallery
Located on Heritage Square, next to Marigold Indian Restaurant, here is this new gallery owned by a Flemish couple. Modern, quite uncommon art. A bit quirky! I like it! Click here for their website.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post about my personal favourite’s of the Franschhoek Art Route. What is your personal favourite art gallery in Franschhoek or the Cape Winelands?
Mapping
This map will navigate you easily from one arty place to another!
Enjoy the art route.
& see you next time on my blog.
X Aukje
*Please note: I have not been asked, paid or invited to write this article. It was my own idea. All images – except the two with source reference, are mine, made with a Canon EOS M camera.
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