Exhibition: Venture: Exploring through ArtbankSA’s evolving Contemporary Collection
Dates: 5 December 2024 – 23 March 2025
Venue: Oliewenhuis Art Museum (Reservoir), 16 Harry Smith Street, Bloemfontein
Oliewenhuis Art Museum is pleased to announce the opening of Venture, an exhibition that artfully interweaves recent acquisitions with established works from ArtbankSA’s contemporary collection. Venture transforms viewers into adventurers, inviting them to discover fresh perspectives through diverse media displayed in the Reservoir at Oliewenhuis Art Museum. The collection showcases cutting-edge artworks that explore South African diaspora and rich cultural themes.
ArtbankSA, a National Program of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, is hosted by the National Museum in Bloemfontein. Launched in 2017, the program was established to support and acquire works from emerging South African artists. Venture marks the continuation of ArtbankSA’s second phase. Five years after its inception, ArtbankSA continues to thrive and now offers artworks for sale to companies, organizations, and private collectors.
Venture celebrates ArtbankSA’s significant achievements in this relatively short period. Visitors will experience newly acquired works alongside carefully curated pieces from the existing collection, offering insights through the lens of remarkable emerging artists from across the country. The exhibition creates meaningful dialogues about pressing contemporary issues addressed by these artists. Art, as a visual language, has the power to spark conversations about various themes, including displacement and relocation—subjects particularly relevant to South Africa’s economic landscape. The ArtbankSA curatorial team states: “The exhibition confronts the devastating reality of gender-based violence, patriarchy, and female suppression, issues that resonate both locally and globally. Through their artistic practices, participating artists critically engage with themes of identity, loss, and cultural heritage.”
All artworks exhibited in Venture are available for purchase. Visitors are invited to discover the perfect addition to their collections. Whether taking first steps into art collecting, building an emerging collection, or adding to an established portfolio, our diverse price ranges make authentic South African art accessible to all.
For inquiries about acquiring artwork, please contact Ester le Roux at artbank@nasmus.co.za or visit the ArtbankSA website at www.artbanksa.org to view the entire collection.
Venture will be on view until 23 March 2025. Oliewenhuis Art Museum is located at 16 Harry Smith Street, Bloemfontein and is open to the public from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 17:00, and on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays between 09:00 and 16:00. A ramp at the entrance of the main entrance provides access for wheel chairs, while a lift provides access to the Permanent Collection display areas on the 1st floor.