KIMBERLEY – Art is a specific way of being and a healthy way of expressing oneself. This was one of the main messages given to the matriculants of 2026 who attended the opening of the annual Matric Art Exhibition at the William Humphreys Art Gallery in Kimberley.
These matriculants were art students at the Kimberley Art Centre, and over several years created artworks based on specific themes.
“You showed great courage and perseverance, and through the different themes you shared special stories and secrets,” Anelle Liebenberg of the KAC said at the event on 8 October.
Matric Art Exhibition at the William Humphreys Art Gallery. On the far left are the four award winners: Marike Schön, Joline Appelgryn, Jada Thomas, and Angela Phillips. PHOTOS: Helena Barnard
Themes such as “Then and Now,” “Metamorphosis,” “Animals as…,” “Circle in a landscape,” “Time Capsule,” “Scarcity vs Surplus” and “Social Circus” led to titles such as “Dear Mr Wolf, Darling Mr Wolf” (by Hannah Voigt of the Northern Cape High School) and “Who’s the real animal” (by Amarisa Coetser of the Adamantia High School).
Rethabile Gaoboihi of the Kimberley Girls’ High School said that art taught her a lot of patience.
Kaylin Abrams of the Kimberley Technical High School said she likes to convey more intrigue in her expression through, among other things, the use of origami sculptures.
Marike Schön of the Diamantveld High School remarked on her experience of art: “Patience with myself and others, and to see the world in another way through colour, patterns and landscapes.”
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Hesta Maree, the gallery’s principal curator of education and public programmes, encouraged the art students to “never stop seeing the world with a creative eye.”
Angela Phillips was announced as the highest achiever over the past three years, while Marike, Jada Thomas of Northern Cape High, and Joline Appelgryn each received an Award of Excellence. Angela and Joline are learners at Diamantveld.
- The Matric Art Exhibition will be on display until 31 October, and members of the public are welcome to view the artworks.
The William Humphreys Art Gallery is one of only three national art museums in the country – the other two are the Iziko Museum in Cape Town and the National Museum in Bloemfontein.
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