Strauss & Co returns to the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees from Saturday 3 to Sunday 11 October with exhibitions, talks, valuation days, coffee raves and a benefit auction.

The auction house is a proud silver sponsor of the spring arts festival.

“Since its beginnings in 2000 as an all-night literary event at Stellenbosch University (SU), Woordfees has grown into one of Africa’s largest arts festivals,” says director Caro Wiese. “Cultural institutions of this scale require sustained support. A flourishing arts sector is a clear measure of a society’s wellbeing.”

Hub of arts

Following its 2025 success, Strauss & Co again divides activities between Oude Leeskamer and the Stellenbosch Town Hall.

Oude Leeskamer serves as curatorial hub, centred on a century-spanning still-life survey and an art jewellery exhibition by 15 South African practitioners. The town hall hosts talks and the fifth Woordfees Benefit Auction.

Curated by Jo Voysey, Anything but Static brings together more than 60 works spanning painting, printmaking, sculpture, photography and video.

The selection ranges from Irma Stern and Frans Oerder to Pieter Hugo and Adam Letch, tracing the genre’s evolution from traditional arrangements to conceptual works.

Teaming up for jewels

Strauss & Co again collaborates with SU on an art jewellery exhibition.

“Where painting fixes a moment, jewellery mobilises it,” says Jill Van Dugteren, senior design specialist at Strauss & Co.

The fifth annual benefit auction on Saturday 10 October at 11:00 brings together works by emerging and established artists to encourage collecting and improve access to local art.

Talks include a collecting panel with Frank Kilbourn, Dr Alastair Meredith and Carel Nolte, facilitated by Sean O’Toole; Lizelle Kilbourn and Bina Genovese on the 61st Venice Biennale; and an immersive performance by painter Gabrielle Kruger with Cape Ballet Africa. Two coffee raves start festival mornings at De Warenmarkt and Eerste Kafeeversameling.

Visit www.straussart.co.za for further details.