2025 Portrait Award Top 40 Revealed

Every two years, the Portrait Award spotlights South Africa’s most daring and captivating portraiture. The 7th edition features 40 artists whose work demonstrates both technical skill and emotional depth.

WORDS Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Mia Thom (Sean O’Toole); Supplied

Held biennially since 2013, the Portrait Award invites artists from across South Africa to submit original, two-dimensional portraits for a chance to secure a solo exhibition. From oil to mixed media, realism to abstraction, these artists offer a striking snapshot of contemporary identity and talent.

“The judging process was incredibly meticulous, and what excited us most this year was the number of new mediums and approaches we saw,” says Donavan Mynhardt, curator at the Rust-en-Vrede Gallery, reflecting on the selection process. “This year, there was a noticeable increase in entries using drawings, embroidery, graphic-based techniques and even tattoo ink, all of which are truly pushing the boundaries of portraiture in exciting new ways.”  

This year’s judging panel featured a cohort of prominent South Africans in the art space, namely Dr Dineke Orton, curator of the University of Johannesburg’s Art Gallery, contemporary artist Thonton Kabeya, and art writer and editor Sean O’Toole.

“The hardest part of narrowing the entries down to just 40 was choosing between so many technically strong and emotionally resonant pieces. I looked at each piece holistically, considering mastery of the medium, composition, and emotional impact. For me, originality is key, and that’s what ultimately sets the Top 40 apart. The future of portraiture in South Africa is bright, with artists exploring new mediums and pushing traditional boundaries in unexpected ways,” says Dr Dineke Orton.

“Artists must understand that art in general is all about being authentic and never being stuck in the traditional painting or drawing,” adds Thonton.

The Top 40 finalists represent a rich diversity of the country’s artists, with works that challenge conventional notions of portraiture. This year’s exhibition is set to offer a powerful exploration of contemporary South African portraiture and its evolving expressions.

“I enjoy the fact that some entrants want to disrupt expectations, be it by using non-traditional material (textiles mainly) or by offering new perspectives and subjects. My only caveat is that experiments have to demonstrate mastery of the material or subject; in itself, an unorthodox medium or approach is not enough,” says Sean. 

The Top 40 

Each finalist offers a fresh perspective on portraiture:

Eastern Cape

• Baxolise Hanise

Free State

• Richard Bollers
• Danielle Pretorius-van Wyk

Gauteng

• Lauryn Arnott
• Matthew Blackburn
• Lena Hugo
• Zelnari Lourens
• Terry Mabuni
• Aubrey Monamodi
• Dee Rudram-Ellis
• Lindie van der Merwe

KwaZulu-Natal

• Senzelw’umusa Mathe
• Gary McIver

Mpumalanga

• Elmarie Smuts

Northern Cape

• Heidi Botha
• Malik Mani

Western Cape

• Hannah Anderson
• Tiffany Baxter
• Marinda Combrinck
• Monique Day-Wilde
• Christelle du Plessis
• Jeanette Du Plessis
• Joseph Dolby
• Ruan Huisamen
• James Labuschagne
• Donna McKellar
• Themba Mkhangeli
• Nabeel Monier
• Ashley Ogilvy
• Tiffany Onderstall
• Elsire Roos
• Penny Simpson
• Rene Snyman
• Tessa Smit
• Michelle Solomon
• Sebastiaan Theart
• Shany van den Berg

The Winners Announcement

The winners of the 2025 Portrait Award will be announced on 29 August at an exclusive gala event, where the overall winner will receive a share of R200 000 and the chance to host a solo exhibition at Rust-en-Vrede Gallery.

Their work will be on public display at the Rust-en-Vrede Gallery and Clay Museum in Durbanville from 30 August to 29 October 2025.

From 30 August to 29 October, the Portrait 100 exhibition – featuring 60 more portraits that form part of the Top 100 – will be on display at the Spier Arts Trust Union House in Cape Town, as part of the First Thursdays programme.

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