Today, Cape Town is the legislative capital of South Africa as well as the capital of the Western Cape province. Since it was the first site of European settlement, Cape Town is known as South Africa’s “mother city”. The city traces its origin back to 1652 when the Dutch East India Company established a refreshment station for its ships on the shores of Table Bay.
Here, while the indigenous provided cattle and the company imported slaves, mixed-race unions took place leading to the development of a new ethnic group, the Cape Coloureds, and to the city’s multi-ethnic population. In 1781 the French established a garrison to help the Dutch defend the city against British encroachment, influencing local architecture and culture.
With the British succeeding in their occupation, freedom for the slaves and new parliamentary and judicial concepts came along. However, it was only with the formation of the Union of South Africa that the town councils of Cape Town and several others combined to form the City of Greater Cape Town. In the last decade, the arts sector in Cape Town has incredibly flourished, especially after the inauguration of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art, and the city has been a major hub for emerging artists of the region.

Southern Africa
Cape Town
Art
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Mentioned in this article
Suggested artist in Cape Town
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Cape Town
Adriaan Diedericks
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Athi-Patra Ruga
Artist -
Cape Town
Brett Murray
Artist -
Cape Town
Beezy Bailey
Artist -
Cape Town
Claudette Schreuders
Artist -
Cape Town
Guy Tillim
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Cape Town
Jane Alexander
Artist -
Cape Town
Ledelle Moe
Artist -
Cape Town
Lee Ann Olwage
Photographer -
Cape Town
Siwa Mgoboza
Artist -
Cape Town
Wim Botha
Artist -
Cape Town
Pierre Le Riche
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Cape Town
Pieter Hugo
Artist -
Cape Town
Maurice Mbikayi
Artist
Suggested events in Cape Town
Suggested art spaces in Cape Town
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Cape Town
Zeitz MOCAA – Museum of Contemporary Art Africa
Museum -
Cape Town
Iziko Museums | South African Museum
Museum -
Cape Town
Goodman Gallery – Cape Town
Art Gallery -
Cape Town
Norval Foundation
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Cape Town
Cavalli Gallery
Art Gallery -
Cape Town
Rose Korber Art
Art Gallery -
Cape Town
34FineArt Gallery
Art Gallery -
Cape Town
Whatiftheworld
Art Gallery