Spier Arts Trust

Spier Arts Trust Spier Arts Trust values the cultural contribution of art to South Africa’s creative economy.

Spier Arts Trust (SAT) administers an ecosystem of artist career development opportunities, including programmes such as the Creative Block, as well as regular curated exhibitions at various venues locally and internationally. Our purpose is to facilitate successful art careers by enabling freedom of creative expression with the potential for social transformation. Our business model is one of sha

red value; our patron partners are committed in a long term strategy to realise economic business goals while doing good in society. We build significant art collections for our patron partners through the administration of an ecosystem of career development opportunities for fine artists. These include, among others, The Creative Block and Qaqambile Bead Studio.

Threads (2025) by Sepideh MehrabanOil on canvas600 x 405 mmNando’s UK Collection  : Invest in the best materialsQuality ...
28/05/2026

Threads (2025) by Sepideh Mehraban
Oil on canvas
600 x 405 mm
Nando’s UK Collection
 
: Invest in the best materials

Quality materials are essential to best develop reliable technical skills, confidence in your presentation and to garner trust in the longevity of your work. On the flipside, cheap materials may fade, disintegrate or behave in unpredictable ways that limits the quality of the final artwork. 

Working professionally does not require buying the most expensive products available; a practical approach is to prioritise materials that directly affect durability and other visual aspects such as colour, so think about using archival paper, strong supports, good primers and artist-grade paints in a limited palette.
Many artists save money by buying fewer colours and reusing surfaces. Purchasing materials in bulk also saves cost. Consider buying together with another artist and sharing the costs, or combining professional materials with more affordable student-grade options where appropriate. 

It is important to test materials carefully before committing to large projects. Learning how different surfaces, pigments, adhesives or mediums respond over time can prevent costly mistakes later. 

Thoughtful material choices demonstrate professionalism and results in works that collectors, galleries, and institutions can trust to endure.
 

The 900-year legacy of the “Freemans” in Leicester - stemming from the medieval Freemen merchants - is rooted in centuri...
25/05/2026

The 900-year legacy of the “Freemans” in Leicester - stemming from the medieval Freemen merchants - is rooted in centuries of medieval history, civic resistance, and tradition.
Fast forward from the early 12th century to the late 1800s, apparently Leicester Freemans Leisure Park - today a local entertainment hub - operated as the Leicester Cattle Market for over a century.
It was a vibrant agricultural hub where farmers gathered for livestock sales, business and gossip.

This is where Nando’s opened a refurbished store in June 2025, where one can still be sipping the tea.
The vibrant restaurant interior by showcases 
Die Doek (2024), an oil on canvas by Khaya Sineyile.
Khaya is a mostly self-taught artist from Nyanga, Cape Town. His work explores South African structures (family, social inequality and cultural heritage);  often contrasting raw, textured brushwork with cartoon-like outlines.

Creative Block is at RMB Latitudes Art Fair again this year!Our chief curator, Tamlin Blake, invites new art collectors ...
21/05/2026

Creative Block is at RMB Latitudes Art Fair again this year!

Our chief curator, Tamlin Blake, invites new art collectors to start your collection:
“Creative Block is perfect while learning to navigate the art world. You can start on a small budget and discover many emerging and established artists of diverse practices.”
We know many of you will return to add to your growing Creative Block collection.

Creative Blocks by Nathaniel Sheppard III, nomThunzi Mashalaba and Vivien Kohler available at our booth in the Glass Marquee.
See you at Shepstone Gardens in , 22-24 May ‘26!

is fast becoming one of the continent’s most anticipated art events, combining an oasis-like experience with the credibility and commercial strength of a global art fair.

18/05/2026

Wild Things is our current ceramic group exhibition .

Open daily until 24 August 2026, everyone’s invited!

Archiving (2023) by Mellaney RobertsCeramic on board600 x 400 mmNando’s India Collection : Ceramics as a 2D mediumWhile ...
13/05/2026

Archiving (2023) by Mellaney Roberts
Ceramic on board
600 x 400 mm
Nando’s India Collection

: Ceramics as a 2D medium
While ceramics lends itself to three dimensions - large or small - it is also very useful as a medium for two-dimensional work, allowing for the manufacture of tiles and low relief panels. These works may appear flat, but clay naturally occupies space - making texture and shadow important compositional elements. 
has its own structural realities which are essential to work with, rather than against. 
Large, flat pieces are vulnerable to warping and cracking. So, to successfully create 2D ceramics, careful slab construction is crucial. When working with slabs, roll out the clay evenly and thoroughly compress it, to reduce stress during drying and firing. 
Slow, even drying is critical, as uneven moisture loss can cause cracking or curling. To minimise this, many artists embrace modular construction using smaller tiles or panels to minimise technical risks and to expand installation possibilities. 
Ultimately, successful ceramic surface works emerge when artists engage with the material on its own terms, allowing its physical qualities and unpredictability to shape the final artwork.
focusOnExcellence

Forbes Magazine cites Dublin as a design-centric European destination, with a rich history in music, literature and art....
11/05/2026

Forbes Magazine cites Dublin as a design-centric European destination, with a rich history in music, literature and art. It’s so fire to have a newly refurbished Nando’s in Dublin’s Mary Street, showcasing art and design from South Africa in this culturally significant city.

The restaurant interior was designed by , who included Greta McMahon’s The Dreaming of the High Moor (2024) , an oil painting from the collection.

Greta is an educator and mixed media abstract painter who lives and works in Riebeek Kasteel . Her art process is grounded in the desire to communicate, to connect and to create a powerful transmission. She creates images in a non- linear way, mapping the reverberation of the quiet, space and the void.

what do I wear to a pandemic? (2020) by Stephen AllwrightWatercolour, ink on FabrianoSpier Collection : Drawing from l...
06/05/2026

what do I wear to a pandemic? (2020) by Stephen Allwright
Watercolour, ink on Fabriano
Spier Collection

: Drawing from life

For many full-time practicing artists, the creative process can become so familiar that it can start to feel like working on auto-pilot. There will be the difficult days and even some form of creative block, but for the most part artists develop processes and routines that keep them at work, in the studio.

From time to time, getting back to basics is necessary. Often, one of the best basics to revisit is drawing from life.

While photos are useful, drawing from life improves your ability to see three dimensional shapes, colours and tonal values. It keeps your hand and eye co-ordination fine-tuned,

Drawing the human body has its own particular challenges and benefits, but you may find drawing your environment, your pets or even still lives can be just as beneficial.

Starting again after a long break can feel awkward or ‘rusty’, but even a couple of hours of will refocus your mind to restore confidence and inspiration.

Remember the time-honoured instruction “draw what you see, not what you think you see”, be patient and have fun!

While it is difficult to tell whether an artist has used reference material or drawn directly from life, this example of Stephen Alwright reflects the honestly and immediacy often seen in life drawing.

A little search reveals that Bishop Auckland is an important market town in Durham since medieval times, situated on a h...
04/05/2026

A little search reveals that Bishop Auckland is an important market town in Durham since medieval times, situated on a hill near the confluence of the River Wear and the little River Gaunless.

Nando’s opened at Bishop Auckland Retail Park in June 2025, with many striking works from collection. Today we’re celebrating Lionel Tazvitya Mbayiwa’s “Danai | Shouting Out” (2024), mixed media on canvas.

Lionel was born in Zimbabwe and moved to Cape Town in 2009. Lionel draws from narratives and fables that resonate with his own en life experiences: “I often reference animals - cows, birds and fish - as metaphor, capturing the essence of my journey and the stories that guide me” - Lionel Tazvitya Mbayiwa

Lionel recently held an exhibition with his brother, Hugh Hatitye Mbayiwa in Austria.

Wild Things is our current ceramic group exhibition Spier Wine FarmEnter a world of untamed creatures that feel mischiev...
30/04/2026

Wild Things is our current ceramic group exhibition Spier Wine Farm

Enter a world of untamed creatures that feel mischievous, otherworldly and powerful. While deeply introspective, Wild Things is also shaped by play. See our link for all works available on the show!

Queen of Cups (2023) by Uys van der Merwe
Unglazed earthenware

Uys is inspired by the physical and intuitive nature of making, where form emerges through process. His practice explores the integration of technology with traditional craft, which allows him to push boundaries while maintaining a strong connection to material and form.

Landscape (2025) by Pholile Hlongwane
Earthenware white clay and transparent glaze

Pholile pushes herself to experiment beyond traditional pottery, searching for unique textures and glazes to achieve a contrast in colour. She revels in the happy accident that occurs in the kiln.

Enki (2024) by Katja Abbott
Ceramic with glaze

Katja’s exploration of her internal dream space has traversed the theme of water, with the artist responding to the extreme floods and drought conditions being experienced world-wide. Loosely, here she combined forms of traditional ceramic water vessels with mythical beings. “Enki” is a deity in Mesopotamian mythology, known as the god of wisdom, crafts, and fresh water. He is associated with creation, playing key roles in various myths, including the creation of mankind and the story of the Great Flood.

Address

Union House, 25 Commercial Street
Cape Town
8001

Opening Hours

Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 17:00

Telephone

+27214612679

Website

http://houseunionblock.co.za/collections/wild-things

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Spier Arts Trust posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Establishment

Send a message to Spier Arts Trust:

Shortcuts

Share

Category

//iconSize: [32, 32], //html: '' }) .bindTooltip(name, { //permanent: true, direction: 'bottom', //offset: L.point(12, 25), //opacity: 0.88, interactive: true }) .bindPopup(name); markersLayer.addLayer(marker); } function getMore() { if (gettingMore) { return; } gettingMore = true; var center = map.getCenter(); $.ajax({ url: "/vicinitysearch", data: { lat: center.lat, lng: center.lng, country: "SOUTH AFRICA" } }) .done(function(data) { var added = 0; data.forEach(function(loc) { if (!locationIds.includes(loc.id)) { var mapLoc = {id:loc.id,lat:loc.latitude,lng:loc.longitude,title:trunc20(loc.name),popupHtml:loc.popupHtml,urlPath:loc.urlPath,pictureUrl:loc.pictureUrl}; locations.push(mapLoc); locationIds.push(loc.id); map._addMarker(mapLoc); added++; } }); }) .always(function() { gettingMore = false; }); } map._clearMarkers = function() { markersLayer.clearLayers(); } }); }, 4000); });