Local talent shines bright as Hannah Anderson from Langebaan, named among 40 finalists in this year’s prestigious Rust-en-Vrede Portrait Awards, is placed among South Africa’s most promising artists.
The 24-year-old from Langebaan, who has focused on portraiture from her high-school days, is turning out some significant offerings from her bedroom-cum-studio, where she is pursuing a full-time career as an artist.
The awards ceremony will take place this Friday, 29 August.
The overall winner will receive their share of R200 000 and a chance to host a solo exhibition at the Rust-en-Vrede Gallery in Durbanville, Cape Town. It is known for showcasing the finest contemporary portraiture in South Africa and providing the artist with national recognition.
The judging panel of three brings unique corresponding perspectives to the table.
Dr Dineke Orton, curator of the University of Johannesburg’s Art Gallery, revealed that the hardest part of narrowing down the entries was choosing among technically strong and emotionally resonant pieces. He looked at every piece holistically and considered the mastery of the medium, composition, and emotional impact.
Donavan Mynhardt, curator at the Rust-en-Vrede Gallery, said there had been an increase in this year’s entries, bringing new techniques to the table, such as drawings, embroidery, graphic-based techniques, and even tattoo ink, pushing the boundaries to new and exciting levels.
Anderson, who was born in Cape Town and grew up in Durbanville, said: “If I had to pinpoint the moment I fell in love with art, it would be at age 6, when I drew a picture of myself standing on top of a unicorn. The reception from my classmates made me so proud. It made me think ‘Hey, I’m pretty good at this! I should keep drawing.”
She attended Fairmont High School and. afterwards did a BA in Visual Communications, which included subjects such as Marketing, Visual Studies, Photography, Graphic Design, Art Direction, Digital Design, and Illusion. Anderson majored in Illustration as it felt more like “home” to her.
Her love for portraiture began in high school with a self-portrait. What started as a class assignment soon became a passion. “I fell in love with portraits and the constant trial-and-error of trying to perfect all the elements. Depicting facial features, expressions, hair, and the background accurately felt like a natural progression.”
Anderson credits her artistic style to the influence of the French painter Gustave Courbet, whose work and techniques she learnt about in high school. Also, an influence is her family and the lived experience, for her art tells personal stories. “If something powerful or impactful happens, I want to make an artwork to commemorate this event or the person behind it.”
In 2023, Anderson moved to Langebaan, where she currently lives with her grandparents. She describes her grandmother as having the spirit of a 21-year-old, while her grandfather carries the soul and spirit of a cowboy. Together they helped her transform her bedroom into a studio, giving her the space to pursue her dream of becoming a full-time artist.
She described them as the most amazing and inspirational people one could have in one’s court, ones who support and love her unconditionally. “Living in Langebaan is a paradise for an artist. The wildlife, the beaches, the lagoon, and the charm that come with a small town only rejuvenate and fuel me as an artist. There is endless beauty around me.”
Hearing she had been selected as one of the top finalists was overwhelming, filling her with a deep sense of being blessed. Anderson immediately notified her friends and family, who had been holding thumbs for her.
The portrait she had submitted was the headshot of a male model who looked worn-out and tired, with a stoic expression on his face. His hair and beard are extremely overgrown, wind-blown and grisled.
It was inspired by the Lebanese adventurer Robert Helou, whom she met in April 2025 on a cycling expedition from Cairo to Cape Town. Tired of traditional education systems, he wanted to put himself in a situation that would teach him more about life than the traditional trajectory expected from most people.
Follow Anderson on Instagram, @hannahworld, and witness how every brushstroke becomes a story worth remembering.
