Opportunity for artists in Rust-en-Vrede portrait competition

Entries for the 7th edition of the Rust-en-Vrede Portrait Award will officially open on Thursday June 5.

Established in 2013 and held every two years, the award offers artists the chance to compete for a share of R200 000 in prize money and the opportunity for a solo exhibition.

The Top 40 finalists will also be featured in a group exhibition and included in a national touring show. With a shorter entry window this year, submissions will be accepted from 9am on Thursday June 5 until 5pm on Saturday June 14.

Portraiture remains a vital form of storytelling and a mirror to both personal and collective experience. “A portrait says so much more … you have to include the psychology and background of the person. We encourage entries that push the boundaries of what a portrait can be – works that explore identity, emotion and the complexity of human connection,” says Donavan Mynhardt, curator at Rust-en-Vrede Gallery.

The 2025 Portrait Award continues to champion inclusivity and artistic innovation, offering a platform for emerging and established talent alike. “This competition is about providing a playing field for all and celebrating meaningful artistic expression. Portraiture remains one of the most accessible and relatable genres in art history – a genre that speaks directly to our shared humanity,” says Mynhardt. 

The Rust-en-Vrede Portrait Award is committed to nurturing diverse and emerging artistic voices. “We’ve seen artists without formal training make it into the Top 40,” says Mynhardt. “This competition is about vision and execution, not résumé. We want to remove as many of those obstacles as we can, particularly for underrepresented artists.” 

On this year’s panel of judges are Thonton Kabeya (Democratic Republic of Congo/South Africa), celebrated contemporary artist; Dr Dineke Orton (South Africa), Art Historian and Curator at the University of Johannesburg, and recent Kanna Award winner for Curation, Sean O’Toole (South Africa), acclaimed art critic and writer.

“We’ve intentionally selected a panel that represents the full creative ecosystem – a curator, a writer and an artist – for a balanced and insightful judging process. All entries are judged anonymously to ensure fairness and objectivity, with no artist names or biographies provided,” says Mynhardt.

Artists aged 18 and over (as of 1 January 2025), permanently residing in South Africa, are eligible to enter. Entries must be two-dimensional artworks, created using any drawing or painting medium, including but not limited to pencil, charcoal, ballpoint pen, pastel, acrylic, oil, textile, or mixed media. Photography is not permitted.

Each portrait must be based on a real person known to the artist, who has granted permission for their likeness to be used and/ or depicted graphically. If using a photographic reference, the artist must have taken the photograph with the permission of the subject.

Key entry guidelines:

• Submit a high-resolution digital photograph of the artwork (up to 2MB in size).
• Crop carefully to ensure the portrait is visible and free of distracting background.
• Ensure the work meets the size specifications outlined on the official website.
• A fee of R250 is payable for each entry.
• Multiple entries are allowed, but each artwork counts as one entry. Entries can be submitted via www.rust-en-vrede.com/portrait-award

The first round of judging is based on digital submissions. From there, about 200 to 300 works are selected for a second round of in-person adjudication. Artists whose work is selected for the second round will be required to send their physical artworks to Rust-en-Vrede Gallery. Artists may make use of the free delivery service provided at designated Stuttaford Van Line depots in Johannesburg, Durban, and Port Elizabeth. Details are available on the gallery website.

Prizes

The total prize pool for 2025 is R200 000, awarded as follows:

• 1st Prize: R150 000 and a solo exhibition at Rust-en-Vrede Gallery
• 2nd Prize: R30 000
• 3rd Prize: R20 000

Additional hampers and non-cash prizes may also be awarded.

Junior Portrait Award

In response to growing interest from younger artists, the Junior Portrait Award will launch in 2026 for participants aged 16 to 18. More details will be shared on the gallery’s website in due course.

Call-to-Action

Entries are only open for a limited period, and artists are encouraged to plan ahead. Mynhardt urges aspiring artists to, “Take your time, present your work thoughtfully, and most importantly – be bold and don’t wait till the last minute to enter. The Rust-en-Vrede Portrait Award is your platform to be seen.”

For full rules, guidelines and to enter, visit:https://rust-en-vrede.com/portrait-award