The August Art Month at Welgemeend, hosted by Strauss & Co in continued collaboration with art collectors and philanthropists Frank and Lizelle Kilbourn, has transformed Cape Town’s historic Welgemeend manor house into a vibrant cultural hub.
Running from August 1 to 31, 2024, this eleventh edition of the boutique arts and culture event is a joint initiative by the volunteer group Friends of Welgemeend and the Kilbourn family.
This year’s event features a meticulously curated exhibition titled (On)bekend / (Un)known, showcasing modern and contemporary art from the Kilbourn family collection. Welgemeend Art Month’s 2024 exhibition showcases lesser known and under-estimated artists as well as sometimes atypical examples of work by acclaimed artists like Cathy Abrahams, Norman Catherine, Willem Boshoff, Igshaan Adams, Walter Meyer, Karel Nel, Berni Searle, Jarryd Ginsberg and Moses Tladi.
“The much-loved artworks that Lizelle and I have selected for the 2024 August Art Month at Welgemeend have been collected over many years and are very familiar to us,” says Frank Kilbourn, chairperson of Strauss & Co. “But I’m fully aware that what is familiar and known to one person might be unknown and new to someone else. I thought this idea would be interesting to explore in an exhibition of unusual or lesser-known works by well-known artists together with works from artists that are not receiving the recognition they deserve.”
The exhibition, which opened to the public on Thursday, August 1, 2024, runs until Saturday, August 31, 2024. The month-long festivities include a full lineup of lively social events, such as a ticketed gala dinner, a classical music concert with Gerhard Joubert, a family day, informative public talks, and a cocktail reception. The event concludes with an art and wine festival on Saturday, August 31, 2024.
Established in 2014 by art collector Frank Kilbourn and auctioneer Stephan Welz, Strauss & Co’s founding director who passed away in 2015, this initiative aims to garner support for Welgemeend. The Homer family built this historic home on the slopes of Table Valley in the 18th century and subsequently enlarged it. Jan van Riebeeck Hoërskool, in collaboration with the Friends of Welgemeend, owns and manages Welgemeend, which was declared a national monument in 1944. August Art Month serves as a vital source of revenue for the maintenance and preservation of this landmark Cape property.
Strauss & Co, Africa’s leading art auction house, offers African and international art, as well as design, wine, and jewellery, through monthly online sales and marquee live auctions. As market leaders in modern and contemporary art at auction in Africa, Strauss & Co (founded in 2009) actively champions artists, designers, and wine producers from the African region. It also supports various educational and community engagement programs, underscoring its commitment to fostering a vibrant art community.
