HOW TO FIND ART ON INSTAGRAM: FOLLOWING LOCAL ART GALLERIES
One of the best ways to familiarize yourself with the art world and discover new artists would be to follow local art galleries, check out our selection.
There is an all-consuming amount of art available on Instagram, enough to make any collector feel very overwhelmed. Here is where to start looking and tips on how to navigate through the mountains of choice. Instagram is a great platform for discovering artworks that you might like and new artists. In addition, it is often a way to get a more intimate insight into the artist’s life or method of producing work. Many artists, especially in recent times, showcase studio visits and discussions live on Instagram opening up the art world to any collector or art enthusiast. Instagram also provides a means for collectors to contact the artist or gallery directly through their Instagram accounts.
FOLLOW ART GALLERIES
A good place to start would be to follow as many of the art galleries as possible as they each offer a curated selection of represented artists and it keeps you up to date with the latest art exhibitions and events. Check out some of these South African art galleries:
STEVENSON GALLERY
Stevenson is one of the first South African galleries to take part in international art fairs. The gallery is currently showing work at Art Basel, the largest art fair in the world. (For the first time Art Basel has online viewing rooms, in response to the global pandemic.) Stevenson has always been known for showcasing cutting-edge art by South African and African artists. To name a few of their artists that have made it internationally: Zanele Muholi, Simphiwe Ndzube, Penny Siopis, Nicholas Hlobo and Pieter Hugo.
They post about all of their upcoming shows, both group and solo exhibitions. Check out the videos they create featuring their exhibited artists and providing virtual walkabouts through the exhibitions. The Stevenson team also posts regular stories on what is happening elsewhere in the art world. They have recently teamed up with the new initiative DAATA Editions to exhibit and sell video artworks by artists such as Penny Siopis and Paulo Nazareth.
GOODMAN GALLERY
Goodman Gallery is known for putting world famous artists such as William Kentrige, David Goldblatt, David Koloane and Sam Nhlengethwa on the international stage. Especially during apartheid South Africa, when access to the rest of the world was difficult. Today the gallery has spaces in Cape Town, Johannesburg and London and continues to represent artists that are internationally known.
Goodman Gallery keeps you up to date with what some of the best-known South African contemporary artists are doing. Their latest venture, which is particularly interesting, consists of a live Instagram session each week – join Goodman on Thursday evenings for their series #ThursdayLIVE with intimate studio visits given by a range of artists and conversations with the team about art.With cur8.art, you can protect the longevity and the security of your art collection.
SMAC GALLERY
Originally from Stellenbosch, SMAC gallery aims to showcase work by emerging and mid-career artists from South Africa. The gallery recently launched a new feature called Artist Rooms. This feature is in response to most exhibitions and art fairs being cancelled during the global pandemic. Available Here.
Always keeping you up to date with the latest works their represented artists are presenting. SMAC is particularly good at including the personal Instagram accounts of the artists whose work is being showcased in the post so this provides a great opportunity to follow the artists you like and see more on how their work is being produced.
EVERARD READ GALLERY
The oldest commercial gallery in South Africa. The gallery originally opened in Johannesburg in 1913! Everard Read now has spaces in Johannesburg, Cape Town and London. Everard Read gallery provides a lot of art news and artists insights on both their Instagram accounts for Cape Town and Johannesburg.
BLANK PROJECTS
Blank projects represents a small but powerful group of contemporary South African artists. Some of these include Igshaan Adams, Bronwyn Katz and Cinga Samson. To name a few achievements: Bronwyn Katz recently exhibited at Palais de Tokyo in Paris and Cinga Samson recently exhibited at the internationally renowned gallery, Perrotin which has spaces in New York, Paris and Hong Kong. Their Instagram account is an interesting mix of artworks, artist interviews and virtual tours. Check out their organized zoom conversations on different topics within the art world – most recently they hosted a conversation with Friends of the South African National Gallery to discuss this year’s nominated work for the Artists’ Film International online screening programme.
WHATIFTHEWORLD GALLERY
Whatiftheworld presents a gallery space focused on emerging South African artists. Their Instagram feed is packed with featured artists presenting their work. There is often special attention paid to how the artists are creating their bodies of work.
SMITH STUDIO FINE ART GALLERY
SMITH is perhaps one of the more approachable galleries in South Africa. The gallery sells work that is perfect for the aspiring as well as avid art collector. The perfect gallery to spot works by emerging artists such as Brett Charles Seiler, Michaela Younge, Sitaara Stodel and Nabeeha Mohamed (to name a few).
BARNARD GALLERY
One of the first smaller galleries in South Africa to start hosting online exhibitions during lockdown. Barnard is also known for its active publishing programme, creating limited editions of books featuring the gallery’s stable of artists.
99 LOOP GALLERY
The gallery recently launched 99 Loop Editions, which is an online store section of their gallery. Available Here.
THK GALLERY
Perhaps one of the most recently opened gallery spaces in South Africa, representing emerging and mid career artists. The gallery also has a wonderful collection of books that can be viewed in the gallery.
SALON 91
Salon 91 is a boutique gallery with a focus on emerging artists. Perhaps best known for introducing iconic local artists such as Kirsten Sims, Black Koki and Heidi Fourie (to name a few).