In what has become one of the most anticipated moments on Africa’s cultural calendar, Investec Cape Town Art Fair, which ran from 19 to 22 February, has revealed the recipients of its 2026 prizes, awarding career-defining recognition, international opportunities, and support that can reshape an artistic practice overnight.
PHOTOS Courtesy of Investec Cape Town Art Fair
Now in its 13th edition, the Investec Cape Town Art Fair announced the winners across five prize categories, including two new prizes that signal where contemporary art is heading: the ORMS International Photography Prize and the Materiality Prize in partnership with Homo Faber.
“Prizes are not just acknowledgements; they create momentum,” says Fair Director Laura Vincenti. “They offer visibility, confidence, and, in many cases, a turning point. For an artist, winning can mean the difference between being seen and being overlooked, between an international opportunity and waiting another year.”
The 2026 Winners
Tomorrows/Today Prize supported by Fiera Milano Exhibitions Africa
Chidirim Nwaubani, represented by Doyle Wham
The Tomorrows/Today Prize was awarded to Chidirim Nwaubani, recognising an artist whose practice reflects the spirit of the fair’s Tomorrows/Today section, dedicated to emerging and under-represented voices pushing the boundaries of contemporary practice.
RDC Art Collection Award
Mellaney Roberts, represented by Berman Contemporary
The RDC Art Collection Award went to Mellaney Roberts, an acquisition prize that offers something rare: guaranteed exhibition of the winning work within one of RDC’s landmark buildings, giving the artist sustained public visibility beyond the fair’s four-day run.
Mellaney explains that she considers this a collective win: “with the community that I grew up with in up in Bobbejaanskloof and in a sense of identity. So, it’s not just for me, but it’s also about taking it back to my community, showing them the appreciation and the hard work that went into excavating their memories, identity, and what land means to us.”
Investec Emerging Artist Award
Warren Maroon, represented by Everard Read
Now in its second year, the Investec Emerging Artist Award went to Warren Maroon, supporting South African artists producing world-class work who are not yet affiliated with an institution, museum, or collection. The award provides recognition that can accelerate a career and open doors internationally.
Maroon’s sculptures use the detritus of everyday life to create new meaning and beauty as a visual representation of his lived experience and his upbringing in the Cape Flats.
ORMS International Photography Prize
Sibusiso Bheka, represented by Afronova
The inaugural ORMS International Photography Prize went to Sibusiso Bheka, whose work proves that photography remains one of the most urgent mediums for engaging with our image-saturated world. The prize also recognises a practice that treats the photographic image not only as documentation, but as a critical, conceptual tool.
The winner receives a substantial cash prize, plus a Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1100 printer, enabling the production of museum-quality archival prints up to A2 and supporting the ongoing development and presentation of their photographic practice.
“The win for me represents hope and also patience,” says Bheka.
Materiality Prize in partnership with Homo Faber
Amy Rusch, represented by Suburbia Contemporary
The Materiality Prize was awarded to Amy Rusch, for whom material is not merely a medium but meaning itself.
The winner receives an all-expenses-paid invitation to participate in the Homo Faber Fellowship Masterclass in Venice, Italy: an eight-month international craft training programme that bridges generations of making, design, and artisanal knowledge.
At a moment when the art world is rediscovering tactility, craft, and process, this prize positions artists working across geographies within a global conversation about what it means to make with one’s hands. | investeccapetownartfair.co.za
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