Renowned South African artist Mary Sibande is a big presence at the 2026 Investec Cape Town Art Fair (ICTAF), on February 20-22, 2026. Her work is on exhibit at the Everard Read Gallery at the ICTAF. She runs Occupying The Gallery, with her husband, Lawrence Lemaoan.
The theme of this year’s fair is: Listen. There is the invitation to pause, slow down, gather in, take in the whispers, never mind the noise. The curators have considered the conversations between art works, artists and communities. Each section of the fair is like a section of a city. It is about finding connections and bridges between pieces.
Circling back to Mary Sibande’s work on exhibit at Everard Read, I love the placement and the conversation between her character, Sophie, a domestic worker who dreams of alternative realities and the adjacent painting. In the piece at the ICTAF, Sophie is, a dancer. Beautiful work. The painting on the right – oil on linen – is by Katlego CL Twala. The two “women” – in both pieces – are considering each other – gazing at each other. It is an invitation to lean in and listen in and reflect. See pic on this page or https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSmPCkgYM/
The Investec Cape Town Art Fair (ICTAF) is on February 20-22, 2026 at The Cape Town International Convention Centre.
✳ Mary Sibande at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair 2026. Pic: Robyn Cohen/TheCapeRobyn Feb 19, 2026.
