On September 12, Absa and SANAVA hosted an immersive door experience centered around African art, employing travel passports that allowed guests to journey through each African country, collect stickers as passport stamps, and engage with the unique art and narratives of each nation. Participants were involved in interactive painting activities, culminating in a sticker that certified their completion of the tour across the continent.
Founded in 1986, Absa L’Atelier Art has been pivotal in highlighting Africa’s artistic talent. The Pan-African competition, a collaboration between Absa and SANAVA, has provided a vital platform for emerging artists, offering professional growth through mentorships, masterclasses, enhanced visibility, and prestigious awards, as well as opportunities for residencies and solo exhibitions that empower artists to convey personal stories and address contemporary issues. The initiative plays a significant role in nurturing artistic excellence, amplifying African voices, and boosting the cultural economy of the continent.
In celebration of its legacy, the brand hosted the Forty Door Absa L’Atelier Art Legacy event on September 12, 2026, at Nine Yards Johannesburg, aiming to showcase African art reflecting heritage, diverse traditions, and indigenous themes. This event underscores the importance of the Absa L’Atelier Art competition within the African artist community and acts as a launchpad for many careers, having evolved into a cultural platform for various lifestyle and art initiatives over four decades.
Additionally, the annual Absa L’Atelier Art and Lifestyle fair is set for October 10, 2026, at Waterfall City Park in Midrand. This family-oriented outdoor event, celebrating contemporary Pan-African visual art, will feature craft activities, food stalls, and live performances from notable local artists. Throughout the fair, finalists of the prestigious Absa L’Atelier Art competition will display their works, and winners will be proclaimed during this event, receiving titles such as Absa L’Atelier Art Ambassador or the esteemed Gerald Sekoto award. Winners are granted monetary awards up to R100,000 for exhibition materials, alongside potential mentorship and international residencies to further their artistic advancements.
Dr. Paul Bayliss, PhD, the Senior Art and Museum Curator at Absa Group, emphasized the significance of the initiative’s 40-year milestone, stating its mission to globalize African art by transforming emerging artists into sustainable professionals, celebrating African culture through storytelling that provokes inquiry into the continent’s heritage. He views the upcoming events as progressive steps toward creating a resilient ecosystem for art and an empowered lifestyle focused on artistic endeavors.
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