Botanical Art Worldwide 2025
Southern Africa

About the Exhibition

Southern Africa is renowned for its abundant and unique flora. Many plants have been foraged and eaten by the indigenous peoples for generations. As societies moved up and down the African continent to avoid conflict, many of their crops moved with them.

With the arrival of European settlements to the Cape in the 1650s, came the introduction of new crops like oranges and citrus fruits, bananas, apples, almonds, onions, wheat and rice.

Over 50 artists have shown intent to exhibit. Selection will take place in Gauteng and the Cape on the 15th of November. The selection panels have been chosen and names shared with members.

Organizers

The Southern African exhibition is being organised by the Gauteng branch of BAASA, the Botanical Artists Association of Southern Africa who will be celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. For enquiries, contact: baasaoffice@gmail.com.

steering committee

The BAW sub-committee is being led by Gillian Condy (who was involved with the 2018 exhibition) and Gwenda Caplan, the current BAASA Gauteng chair. There are also three in-house graphic designers who will handle all the design work, a treasurer, a legal expert, and a team of hard-working individuals.

venue

Villa Arcadia in Parktown, Johannesburg has been secured as the venue. Designed in 1910 by Herbert Baker for Lionel Philips, one of the important Randlords of Johannesburg, it is a heritage building in keeping with the exhibition theme. It was sold in 1922 to the South African Jewish Orphanage who ran it for 81 years before it was purchased by the Hollard Insurance Company in 2003 and beautifully restored. It houses directors’ offices, board rooms and  rooms hired out for functions. Read MORE. We thank Hollard for their sponsorship for the use of their property and Spier Wine Estate for wines to be used at the exhibition opening.

 The former Music room will be used as the main exhibition area and the library for a shop selling cards and prints, while the beautiful long verandah facing the Northern suburbs of Johannesburg will be perfect for the opening night, weather permitting.

Dates

The Botanical Art Worldwide exhibition will be open to the public from 16th – 31st May 2025, Tuesdays to Saturdays. During the exhibition walkabouts for the public and demonstrations by our top artists will be held on Saturday mornings.

Botanical Art Worldwide 2018

Native Plants of Southern Africa

About this Exhibition

Project activities are well under way, with Botanical Artists Association of Southern Africa (BAASA) calling for entries from artists living in any southern African nation. The exhibition will open May 17, 2018 and hang in the Everard Read Gallery through June 9, 2018, the longest running commercial gallery in Africa.  Details may be found here: http://botanicalartistsassociationsa.blogspot.co.za/p/worldwide-day-of-botanical-art-to-be.html  BAASA also has a Facebook page where they will be posting updates: https://www.facebook.com/botanicalartsa/

The Cape Chestnut tree flowers so heavily, its canopy is covered in pink, and so is cultivated for its beautiful flowers and glossy leaves. It is not related to chestnuts at all but is more closely related to citrus trees. The artist, Gillian Condy, shows the beautiful, prolifically flowering branch as well as the fruit in her lively composition.

Organizer

Botanical Art Society of Southern Africa

Steering Committee

Gillian Condy
Karen Bryden

exhibition Venue

Everard Read Gallery, Rosebank, Johannesburg

Location

Everard Read Gallery, 6 Jellicoe Avenue, Johannesburg, GP, 2196 

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