About
OUR STORY
RK Contemporary opened in 2017, an offshoot of Gallery Riebeek Kasteel (established in 2012), as a platform to showcase established contemporary artists as well as emerging South African talent. Situated in Riebeek Kasteel, the gallery hosts monthly exhibitions featuring contemporary art across a variety of disciplines including painting, sculpture, photography, print-making and ceramics. Themed exhibitions touch on thought-provoking socially relevant issues, for example, such as identity, gender and the environment. Emerging artists are invited to co-curate themed group exhibitions providing an opportunity for them to gain curatorial skills and experience and to engage with other artists. The gallery also hosts exhibitions for young artists who are doing residencies and are under the mentorship of well-known artists who are resident in Riebeek Kasteel. RK Contemporary houses a collection of the Spier Arts Trust’s The Creative Block project. In alignment with the project’s aim to facilitate art careers, Creative Block artists have been selected to exhibit for the first time in RK Contemporary’s group exhibitions, providing them with opportunities for exposure and exhibition experience. The gallery’s social responsibility work extends to an annual charity exhibition event. Affordable artworks are donated by local artists and 100% of the sales are donated to local charities supporting the Arts. RK Contemporary is one of the founding members of Solo Studios – an art immersion weekend which forges collaboration between artists, art curators and the local community. The gallery serves as the main hub for the event and houses the signature artworks.
THE TEAM
ASTRID MCLEOD
OWNER/CURATOR
HELEN WEBER
SOCIAL MEDIA & CLIENT LIASON
STEPHEN SMITH
PARTNER ART FAIRS, GERMANY
DANIEL BRISTOW
GALLERY ASSISTANT & CLIENT LIAISON
KATJA ABBOTT
CO-CURATION, WRITING & EDITING
“RK Contemporary bridges the gap that exists between contemporary art and it's audience – creating an understanding of how today's visual arts express the social, cultural and environmental issues in our changing world.”
RK Contemporary is dedicated to offering the gallery as a non-commercial project space for experimental ventures by established and emerging artists. We encourage partnerships between educators and artists and welcome proposals from creative individuals or groups to present fresh ideas of contemporary work.
"What society deems important is enshrined in its art."
- Harry S. Broudy
