Solo Studios X: Ten Years of Art and Creativity

X marks the spot in the Riebeek Valley as Solo Studios celebrates 10 years of being a hub for art lovers and seekers of country allure – from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October, established and emerging artists will open their private studios and galleries to the public, inviting them into their personal creative spaces.

COMPILED BY Palesa Mohola PHOTOS Supplied

Solo Studios X, a festival hosted by Solo Studios, brings a twist with something completely new – a commemorative limited-edition box of 10 original prints created by renowned local artists, stalwarts of the original Solo Studios event 10 years ago.

With more than 60 artists, five galleries and numerous exhibitions, here are 10 ways to experience Solo Studios X:

10 Years, 10 Artists, 10 Boxes

Ten artists from the original group of creatives who helped shape the festival in its earliest years have each been invited to create 10 original prints which are destined to become collectors’ pieces. Chosen artists include Emma Willemse, André van Vuuren, Solly Smook, Sharon Bischoff, Wiehan de Jager, Riaan van Zyl, Gordon Williams, Lizette Visser, Tamlin Blake and Kevan Moses.

Art and Art Makers

The core experience remains the intimate connection with artists in their own studios, beginning with a close-knit group of 16 largely mid-career and emerging Kommetjie female artists. Their works were conceived on canvas, in sculpture and ceramics, and other media, with two chosen themes: Solo in Colour and Where is Home?

Second is an intergenerational exhibition of the Creative Kin Collective, a family collaborative art practice based in Riebeek Kasteel. The Collective’s works are full of colour, humour and the joyful unpredictability of making together, and a selection of these original works is now available as high-quality fine art prints.

Lastly are two hands-on workshops for people wanting to try their hand at art making: a Blue and White Ceramic Plate Painting Workshop with ceramic artist Antoinette du Plessis, and a Printmaking Workshop exploring drypoint etching – a direct technique that uses an etching needle or craft knife to create images on a Perspex plate – led by acclaimed artist Judy Woodborne.

Made in Brazil

Julia Franco, the Brazilian force behind art and design gallery NOSSO in Sea Point, has curated a collection of handcrafted Brazilian pieces which celebrate the colour, tradition and rich dialogue between contemporary South African and Brazilian creativity.

The collection ranges from intricate woodwork and tapestries to bright ceramics and contemporary functional design objects, all made in Brazil. The exhibition throws the spotlight on artistic energy and talent from Latin America – a first at Solo Studios.

Garden of Edible Delights

New to Solo Studios, The Valley Potager extends an invitation to take a moment and explore the fruits of one man’s gardening vision and labour. The idyllic one-hectare vegetable and fruit garden in the middle of the Riebeek Valley was lovingly designed and created by Jan Seidel in the style of a European kitchen garden.

EcoPlace

Louis Jansen van Vuuren, a multi-talented and visionary artist, will conduct an intimate guided walk of his remarkable, sustainably built luxury home and studio in Riebeek Kasteel, known as EcoPlace – built entirely out of recycled plastic and fabric, and filled with his work and that of other artists he admires.

Gardens become Galleries

Sculpture meets nature in two Riebeek Kasteel garden installations, curated by gallerist and curator Ilse Schermer. Sculptural works by artists such as Wilma Cruise, Strijdom van der Merwe and Jackie Lloyd, among many others, will become part of two garden settings: Huis van RAAF and The Valley Potager.

Walk and Talk

Guided walkabouts take place on Saturday, either with a stroll through the village while meeting artists in their own creative spaces, or by spending time in a single studio for a deeper dive. Leading the walkabouts will be artists Wiehan de Jager and Clayton Sutherland, who will guide visitors through the creative process behind their exhibition of ceramic wall-mounted artworks, vessels and sculptural pieces at Riebeek Valley Wine Co.

An Architectural Walking Tour of Riebeek West will be led by renowned architectural historian Dr André van Graan, and an art specialist from Strauss & Co. will lead an engaging talk about the art of art collecting.

The Art of Food

A selection of carefully chosen gourmet evenings, each a reflection of a different chef: a modern Japanese long table by Cheyne Morris of SAISEI, Big Fat Italian Table by Giuseppe, or a delicious spread at The Royal Hotel.

Swartland Sipping

Riebeek Valley Wine Co will guide participants through a curated selection of wines from Swartland, a big country which boasts some of the most internationally acclaimed and experimental winemakers in South Africa.

Sunday Send-off

When the studio and gallery doors close on Sunday afternoon, the weekend gets a musical send-off with The Art of Music in the magical setting of The Valley Potager Garden.

“When Solo Studios began 10 years ago, we never imagined the extraordinary community that would grow around it,” says Ashley Stone, co-organiser of the event. “Artists, collectors, visitors, volunteers and our partners have shaped what Solo Studios has become. Solo Studios X is both a celebration of that journey and an invitation to imagine what the next ten years might hold.”

Solo Studios 2026 takes place in Riebeek Kasteel from 23-25 October. | solostudios.co.za 

Don’t forget to sign up to our weekly newsletter for the latest architecture and design news.