Portrait Awards South Africa 2021

Inspired by the long-standing, UK-based annual international portrait competition, the BP Portrait Award, Rust-en-Vrede Gallery in Durbanville, Cape Town launched the Portrait Award in 2013 – with generous sponsorship from Sanlam Private Wealth.

The competition is similar to its UK counterpart, but at a reduced scale, with an initial first prize of R100 000 for the best portrait. In 2021 the prize money will be increased to R 150 000. A second prize of R 30 000 and a third prize of R 20 000 will be initiated in 2021. This biennial competition is open to all resident South African artists, 18 years and older, and aims to increase public awareness and appreciation for the art of portraiture, as well as give South African artists an opportunity for further exposure.

With an overwhelming 1 783 entries by 1 205 artists in its first year, the competition has grown by leaps and bounds. With the launch of a digital entry system for the 2019 competition, has elevated  the standard of South African portraiture for years to come.

The competition is based on anonymous judging: all the works entered are unsigned, thereby levelling the playing field and ensuring that the three judges select the top 100 portraits purely on technicality, narrative and emotional appeal.

Each year, a panel of three judges, consisting of one international and two local judges, select what they deem the best 100 portraits from the entries received. From these, the Top 40, Top 5, Top 3 and winning portrait are selected.

In addition to the Top 40 works exhibited at the Rust-en-Vrede Gallery in Durbanville, the remaining 60 portraits will be exhibited at a venue to be determined in Cape Town, under the title PORTRAIT 100, giving the public the opportunity to view 100 of the country’s best portraits in one City. Collectable catalogues are printed to commemorate the Top 40 Portraits.