The Irma Stern Museum turns 50 in 2022
From its lush, secluded garden that begs for picnickers, to its Edwardian architectural grandeur, to the astonishing, vibrant interior brimming with cultural and historical artefacts from far-flung travels, to one of the world’s most impressive collections of South African expressionist art, the Irma Stern Museum is nothing short of a national treasure. If it’s not yet on your bucket list, add this Rosebank, Cape Town destination to your must-see line-up of things to do! In 2022 this cultural gem celebrates its 50th year with a stimulating schedule of star-studded exhibitions, events and talks. Once the home of one of South Africa’s
Newsletter 3/21
Dear Friends, And here we are in November, and thoughts are starting to turn to holidays and festivities. We at Team ISM are, of course, convinced that there is no better way to spend time away from work or experiences with friends, children and grandchildren than to visit the UCT Irma Stern Museum. The garden is in full bloom, so remember to bring your picnic along to soak up the late-spring atmosphere. Visiting details can be found here: Visit – Irma Stern Museum. And when you visit, do have a look at the newest exhibition titled 'Memórias da Madeira'. Stern visited Madeira as
Sharing Madeiran Memories
On 2 November 2021, the UCT Irma Stern Museum rang with the laughter, stories, memories and emotions of Madeira. As part of the exhibition Memórias da Madeira, the museum hosted a number of Madeirans who, though born on the island, as children moved with their families to South Africa. Over traditional treats such as Rebuçados de Funcho and Pastéis de Nata, the conversation ranged from festivities and village-specific specialities to the difficulties of fishing life. For the museum team, it was a special treat to see how paintings, sketches and drawings Irma Stern made in Madeira rekindled memories. Victor Henriques, Chairperson of the
Newsletter 2/21
Dear Friends, We are excited to welcome Athi-Patra Ruga as artist-in-residence at the UCT Irma Stern Museum! Ruga has for many decades been in conversation with the art of Irma Stern – drawing on and reworking such iconic paintings as Stern's Watussi Queen, Swazi Youth and Zulu Woman. Now we are delighted that Ruga will be working from a studio at the Museum, engaging with Irma Stern at the intimate level of her former home. Both Stern and Ruga were and are ground-breaking and transgressive in their willingness to push the boundaries of aesthetics and explore new ways of making art. And both Athi-Patra and Irma
Irma & Athi
Renowned contemporary artist Athi-Patra Ruga takes up residence in the iconic Irma Stern’s home-turned-museum The UCT Irma Stern Museum welcomes highly respected contemporary artist Athi-Patra Ruga as artist-in-residence for three months from November 2021 onwards. The residency will build up to an exhibition of new works combined with a retrospective, set to open on 19 March 2022. The retrospective will feature select examples of Ruga’s iconic tapestries from the period 2009–2018, which reference paintings done by Irma Stern during her 1943 and 1946 expeditions to central Africa. Since 2008, Ruga’s work has been in conversation with the art of Stern, reworking such
