Unveiling Beauty: The Grand Reopening of Benguela Galleries
Amidst the serene landscapes of Hermanus, a transformation has taken place. Benguela Galleries, renowned for its rich history of art curation, invites you to its grand reopening this September.
Our newly curated collection offers both seasoned art enthusiasts and newcomers an opportunity to discover beauty in its myriad forms. From modern art pieces to timeless classics, each artwork tells a tale waiting to be explored.
Join us at Benguela Galleries' grand reopening and witness the unveiling of unparalleled beauty in art and ambience.
Engage with the Heartbeat of Local Art
At Benguela Galleries, art goes beyond mere viewing. It's about connecting with the narrative, understanding the artist's vision, and immersing oneself in the emotion encapsulated in each piece.
We're not just unveiling artwork; we're unveiling an experience.
Enjoy live classical music as you explore our new art gallery.
Join us on and be among the first to witness beauty reborn at Benguela Galleries.
What to Expect:
Unveiling Beauty: Art, Sculpture & Bubbles
Immerse yourself in the world of abstract art that goes beyond the ordinary, where colours dance and forms take new life.
Feel the energy of spring come alive through the vibrant and dynamic artworks that reflect the spirit of renewal and growth.
Explore some of our featured artists:
Hennie Niemann Jnr
Hennie works instinctively, rather than academically. He wants to draw out emotions, not academic discussions. He has a great love for what he does, and there are few things as satisfying to him as a good, productive day in his studio.
Therese Rink
Therese derives her styles and ideas from a broad and diverse range of sources, mostly instinctive art as thoughts is manifested in the closest media at hand.
She often uses different bright colours on her face rather than natural skin tones as she sees people as characters rather than a box to be ticked defining race, gender or beliefs.
She believes that we all have the same emotions and feelings which brings her back to the ultimate object which is to surprise, amuse or puzzle observers with her art.
Hennie Niemann Snr.
Hennie’s magic comes from his ability to paint in so many different styles and genres.
Conrad Beukes
Born in Cape Town in 1967, I studied painting at Hugo Naude Art School from 1983 to 1985 as part of my High School studies. In 1986 I did a foundation course at Ruth Prowse School of Art in Cape Town. My first job was as an artist for a screen-printing company doing logo design, t-shirt design and textile design in an old-school manner with a reproduction camera and hand-cutting film. Over the years I have worked in the antique furniture business, antiquarian books, and guesthouse management and have travelled to South America, Southeast Asia and Europe. The seaside town where I live has been a favourite hometown to many well-known South African artists and writers, it has remained an inspiration.
Sonja Nel
Somerset West based artist, working on her unique style and application after having been an art teacher in earlier years, and subsequently being tutored by Hennie Niemann Snr. after deciding to make art her full-time career.
She loves to work with vivid and expressive colours, capture scenes of natural beauty, and experiment with abstract takes on subject matter that catches the eye. She has a fondness for depicting floral still life, women with flowers and cats.
Grant Preston
Grant's art career started late in life. After eleven years in advertising as a creative director, he decided to give the commercial world a miss and started learning to draw at the age of 30. He studied figure drawing at Wits University in Johannesburg and had his first exhibition of figure drawings in June of 1981. Thirty years later after seven one-man shows and numerous joint exhibitions throughout the world Grant has established himself as one of South Africa's leading contemporary artists. His style has changed over the years from figurative work in oils to his own unique style of abstraction in acrylics which is ever changing as he evolves as an artist. He now works from his home studio in Hermanus South Africa and welcomes all art lovers to visit.
Tim Joel
The Joel Gallery is now the home of British oil painter Tim Joel. After gaining a distinction in BTEC General Art and Design at Epsom College of Art, and a BA degree in photography and moving image from Napier University, Edinburgh, he left the UK and travelled to Asia, and it was here that he began painting in April 2000 whilst living in a beach hut on Koh Samui in southern Thailand. His main inspiration has always been the sun. After leaving Koh Samui he moved to Taiwan where he had numerous exhibitions, made lifelong friendships and finally returned to the UK in 2019 with his two small children and is now a co-founder of The Joel Gallery in Mousehole.
Anina Deetlefs
Anina is a born and bred Capetonian. She obtained a Degree in Graphic Design at the University of Stellenbosch in 1995. She worked in the fashion and interior industry both internationally and locally.
Her artworks can be found in collectors' homes both locally and internationally.
Her work consists of a combination of oil and pen. She combines her love of portraiture, textile design and background in graphic design with clean-cut mid-century modern elements. The end result is a fascinating contemporary work which portrays the human face with a floral inlay or tattoo. Each work has an accompanying uplifting story that enhances the viewer’s appreciation of the unique work.
Krisjan Rossouw
Krisjan Rossouw grew up and lives in Cape Town, South Africa. He is a self-taught fine art photographer with no formal art or photographic training. Over the last decade, Krisjan has established himself globally for his unmistakably distinct approach to contemporary portraiture that celebrates the beauty, strength and resilience ofAfrica and her people.
Valerie Murray
Valerie Murray is a Photographer, Artist and Graphic Designer, based in Cape Town originating from Harare, Zimbabwe. Her work is a celebration of her African heritage influenced by her layered upbringing in beautiful Zimbabwe and she travels across southern Africa. Beauty through an African lens is her mantra and her work features a prominent African aesthetic. Her drive emanates from a perpetual desire to capture African beauty in a unique and sophisticated manner.
Betzy Geldenhuys
Being an artist is to be aware of and recognize your talent whilst developing ones inner self. For some, this could take a lifetime, others sooner. I began sketching and painting at a very young age and have been painting now for 35 years and have never yet lost my passion.
I have always found tremendous inspiration from colour, various light shades, reflections, shadows and textures. Many of my works are "real" while others are imaginary. Painting to me is very uplifting, tremendously inspiring, and many times sacred, reminding me that it is part of God's creation. I find much joy and inspiration in my surroundings and this helps me to become more passionate and inspired.
Janko de Beer
Recently a second-time finalist for a Global Art Award, Janko's work has featured in many solo and group exhibitions, and he has established a substantial international following. His formal career as an artist began with sculpture, but he now balances painting and sculpting equally.
He tries not to be governed by preconceived notions of what is popular or critically acclaimed in art since this could result in a monotonous duplication of the same thing over and over. He believes in being guided by the process, rather than forcing it one way or the other.
Tay Dall
South African abstract artist, Tay Dall, uses imaginative mediums and multiple layers of colour, mark making and line drawing to communicate intense passion and energy in her paintings. While her works are deeply personal, they invite the viewer to draw their own unique interpretation of their meaning. “Her work incites excitement, drama and emotional magic to unfold in the mind’s eye, without the need of a logical conclusion or explanation, Wow!”
Tay has unstoppable energy and has participated in dozens of successful group and solo exhibitions throughout the world. Today, her works can be found in over 30 local and international galleries.
Rita Knoetze
As a self-taught artist with no formal art education, she started embracing her own style and from 2010 continued with impressionistic and abstract art. The freedom of this art form awakened her own spiritual and artistic voice. Rita paints because she wants to express the URGE in her!
“There is simply too much “art” and “zest” within me that I want to share with the world!” -says Rita
Her art can be found abundantly in homes throughout South Africa, as well as overseas in the USA, UK, Germany, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand.
Gerhard vd Westhuizen & Mambakwedza Mutasa (Collaboration)
Gerhard vd Westhuizen and Mambakwedza Mutasa met in May 2018 at the Festival of Art in Franschhoek, Western Cape. Whilst exhibiting at the same art festival, Gerhard and Mamba came to cross paths. With a keen and inquisitive interest in each other’s works, they instantly came to realize that they shared a very like-minded passion in what they do and how they create it. That initial meeting was purely a fusion of dynamics that would ultimately be the beginning of a powerful journey of artistic collaborations.
Samarie Smith
“Clay anchors me. I am thrilled that after all these years as an art student at Stellenbosch University, it finally found me again.” - says Samarie
As an Art and Journalism graduate, Samarie has completed her Cape Wine Academy diploma, Wine Business Management at UCT Business School, and is a certified taster (Michael Fridjhon Judging Academy). Samarie represented South Africa in the World Blind tasting Championships in France in 2014 and has judged various wine competitions. In 2021, she completed the sought-after WSET Diploma. She is currently working as a freelance journalist and creative consultant. Otherwise, you will find her in the pottery studio creating functional art, predominantly one-of-a-kind wine receptacles, decanters, pitchers and teapots.
Gavin Larkin
In his paintings, Gavin strives to capture unique scenes, using the freedom of brushstroke to create the illusion. His painting style is impressionistic, with great importance placed on the composition, colours and light. Acrylics is his preferred medium.
His photographic work
This includes landscape, architecture and ‘street’ (or candid) – which is Gavins favourite genre. Street photography records everyday life in public places. It tells a story and conveys an emotion. Recording on camera that one and only fleeting moment, these moments which may otherwise go unnoticed, is particularly rewarding to Gavin.
Karla Duterloo
As an artist, Karla specialises in creating abstract compositions and harmonious mosaics on any surface.
One of my most popular works is the mosaic wildlife animal heads.
My mosaic squares often incorporate African elements and handmade glass fusions, and I am always exploring new ways to incorporate traditional and non-traditional materials into my mosaic projects.
Currently, I am working on creating mosaics with stacked beads, seascapes with beads, and mosaic collages of paintings.
Tertius van Dyk
Tertius’s love of art was lifelong, but he came to professional art only later in life when it became clear that what he was producing was not only greatly valued but also in high demand. It can take time for our best dreams to be realised…
Terius is a renowned artist, whose work once explored surrealism's painting genre, but now boldly explore the vibrant palette and bold imagery of pop artist.
He uses mixed medium in his art but works mostly in acrylic on large canvas format.
Jeandré Mariner
South African Artist Jeandré Mariner creates abstract and semi-abstract works inspired by nature. She works predominantly in oil paint. She also enjoys pencil sketches, colourful abstract ink works and drawing with black ink.