GEORGE NEWS - The legacy of the late art lover, expert and collector, Dr Matthys Strydom, his wife, Helene, and his late brother, Prof Leon Strydom, all three of the famous Strydom Gallery in George, continues with an annual group exhibition at the Ludwig Strydom Gallery at 26 Caledon Street.
This festive season you once again have the opportunity to view outstanding paintings, sculptures, wood engravings, etchings, ceramics and drawings right here in George.
Matthys started the exhibition in 1969 bringing the artworks of top artists from across South Africa to the Garden Route.
Matthys always numbered his exhibitions and the last collection hosted at the Strydom Gallery was George 45. Last year, following a 10-year gap, the Ludwig Strydom Gallery continued this tradition with the George 46 exhibition.
Nine artists took part in 2024 and this year the gallery will showcase 12 top South African visual artists in George 47.
The exhibition will feature Konstanze Harms, Fiona Rowett, Digby Hoets, Rosa Snyman Wessels, Lesley-Ann Hoets, Ian Tainton, Jacobus Kloppers, Ludwig Strydom, Mandy Lake, Richard Forbes, Lena Hugo and Huibrecht de Hart.
Many of these artists are internationally renowned and their works feature in famous museums, universities, as well as in corporate and private collections. Many of them are also involved in passing on their skills that they have learned and discovered over many years.
When and where
The Ludwig Strydom Gallery (Evolutio Inventio) is located at 26 Caledon Street in George, the home of Matthys and Helene. Their house was designed by Helene, an architect, in such a way that it would be perfect for displaying art.
George 47 can be viewed by appointment from 15 December to 9 January 2026, Monday to Friday between 11:00 and 16:00 and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 14:00.
The artists
Konstanze Harms
Born in 1939, she stays on a farm near Stellenbosch and still makes beautiful ceramics while passing on her knowledge learned from masters of the past to younger potters.
Fiona Rowett
Born in 1948, she stayed in George for several years before moving to Paarl. Her paintings are a form of meditation and she prefers to make suggestions rather than descriptions.
Digby Hoets
Born in 1949, Digby, who stays in Midrand, is famous for producing enormous ceramic jars for home, garden, corporate, landscape and architectural settings.
Rosa Snyman Wessels
Born in 1952 she stays in George. She spent 30 years as a landscape designer in Johannesburg before starting to paint. She taps into her experience of nature to create her paintings.
Lesley-Ann Hoets
Born in 1952 she lives in Sedgefield, where she creates exquisite ceramics and teaches every week - transferring her skills to young and old.
Ian Tainton
Born in 1955 and staying in George, he makes, amongst other things, etches and wood engravings. He also teaches.
Jacobus Kloppers
Born in 1959 and now living in Cape Town, he is working on an expanding series of oil paintings of Table Mountain and the underlying city. Jacobus is always painting in challenging ways to confront viewers to re-examine their perceptions of life.
Ludwig Strydom
Born in 1963 and living in George, he is fascinated by movement which he captures in his wood sculptures. He also teaches Movelution (evolution of movement) and developed Movetation with his students to write movement. There will be video examples of these “maps” at the exhibition.
Mandy Lake
Born in 1968 and following a successful career in design, illustration and publishing, she now lives in Cape Town, where she is focusing her lifelong fascination with the ocean in her art. She masterfully manipulates oil paint to depict the reflections of water.
Richard Forbes
Born in 1970 and living in George, he works in many mediums, including installation, printmaking, painting, film, writing and sculpture and will showcase some of his newest sculptures at the exhibition.
Lena Hugo
Born in 1975 and living in Pretoria, she mostly works in pastel drawings, but her work also includes oil paintings which are included in this exhibition. Her work expresses her interest in our universal human condition and the cycle of birth, death and resurrection.
Huibrecht de Hart
Born in 2001, she recently moved from Pretoria to Cape Town, and paints in oil and in mixed-media, creating an ambiguous view of the world. Examples of her Anthropo-Aqua series are included in the George 47 exhibition.
To book a viewing of this incredible exhibition, phone or text Noline-Ann Strydom on 071 153 2885.
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