PRESS RELEASE
Event: 2025 Sasol New Signatures Visual Arts Competition
Submissions: 10 and 11 June 2025
Where: Pretoria Art Museum, North Gallery
Cnr Francis Baard and Wessels Street, Arcadia Park, Arcadia
Entries are now officially open for the 2025 Sasol New Signatures Visual Arts Competition, South Africa’s premier platform for emerging visual artists. Now in its 35th year of Sasol’s sponsorship, Sasol New Signatures remains the most prestigious platform for emerging artists to break into the professional art world. It is a launchpad for creative careers, a celebration of bold and fresh ideas, and a testament to the transformative power of visual storytelling and the ability of art to inspire, challenge, and connect.
Under the custodianship of the Association of Arts Pretoria, the Sasol New Signatures has a proud legacy of launching the careers of some of South Africa’s most respected and recognisable contemporary artists. Many former winners and finalists have gone on to establish themselves nationally and internationally, having their work showcased in leading galleries, museums, and biennales.
The competition is open to all South African artists aged 18 and older who have not yet held a solo exhibition, except for academic exhibitions such as those for a Master’s degree. Artists working across all visual media, from traditional painting and drawing, to printmaking, sculpture, photography, video, and installation, are encouraged to enter. Artists who are represented by established galleries or agents, or who are employed as full-time lecturers in visual art or design, are not eligible.
The overall winner will receive R100 000, as well as the opportunity to present a solo exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum in 2026. The runner-up will receive R25 000, and five merit award winners will each receive R10 000.
To support artists on their journey, Sasol New Signatures will once again offer a range of educational tools and resources to prospective entrants. This includes online Information Sessions, how-to tutorials, downloadable fact sheets and an informative blog. Chairperson Pfunzo Sidogi and Sasol Art Curator Cate Terblanche will lead this educational campaign, designed to demystify the entry process and guide artists in meeting the technical and conceptual requirements of the competition.
Artists can submit their entries in person at one of the following eight collection points around South Africa on Tuesday, 10 and Wednesday, 11 June 2025 between 10:00 to 16:00.
Bloemfontein: Oliewenhuis Art Museum, 16 Harry Smith Street, Bloemfontein
Cape Town: Art B Gallery, Library Centre, Carl van Aswegen Street, Bellville, Cape Town
Durban: KZNSA Gallery, 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, Durban
Johannesburg: Sasol Place, 50 Katherine Street, Wierda Valley, Sandton
Polokwane: The Polokwane Art Museum, Library Gardens, corner Grobler & Hans van Rensburg Street, Polokwane
Gqeberha: NMU Bird Street Gallery – Nelson Mandela University, Bird Street Campus, 20 Bird Street, Central, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth
Potchefstroom: Potchefstroom Museum, C/o Sol Plaatjie & Wolmarans Street, Potchefstroom
Pretoria: Pretoria Art Museum, corner Francis Baard and Wessels Streets, Arcadia Park, Pretoria
If you’re ready to take the next step in your artistic journey and join the ranks of South Africa’s most exciting creative voices, enter the 2025 Sasol New Signatures Visual Arts Competition.
Call for entries video: CLICK HERE
Download the entry form: CLICK HERE
For more information: www.sasolsignatures.co.za
Or contact: Nandi Hilliard from the Association of Arts Pretoria
012 346 3100 / 083 288 5117 or artspta@mweb.co.za
Instagram: @sasolnewsignatures
Social Media hashtag: #SasolNewSignatures
The Pretoria Art Museum is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, between 10:00 to 17:00, and is closed on Mondays and public holidays.