The countdown is officially on! With just under a week left until final submission for the 2025 Sasol New Signatures Visual Arts Competition, emerging South African artists are encouraged to prepare their entries for one of the country’s most prestigious visual art platforms.
Founded by the Association of Arts Pretoria and proudly sponsored by Sasol for the past 35 years, Sasol New Signatures has played a pivotal role in launching the careers of countless South African artists. It remains the longest-running competition of its kind in the country and is a powerful platform for fresh, new voices in contemporary South African art.
The competition offers emerging artists a rare opportunity to:
- Benchmark their work on a national level
- Gain exposure through inclusion in the Sasol New Signatures exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum
- Be featured in the annually published Sasol New Signatures Catalogue
Artists are encouraged to push creative boundaries, explore new materials and techniques, and challenge conventional norms in artmaking. This is a space for bold, visionary, and experimental work.
To assist artists on their submission journey, Sasol New Signatures provides a wide range of educational tools, including:
- Online information sessions
- Downloadable fact sheets
- Blogs
These resources, led by Chairperson Pfunzo Sidogi and Sasol Art Curator Cate Terblanche, are designed to demystify the entry process and support artists in aligning their submissions with the competition’s technical and conceptual requirements.
The Sasol New Signatures website is a rich treasure trove of information, featuring past catalogues, interviews with previous winners, submission guidelines and more. Additional content is also available via the Sasol New Signatures YouTube channel.
Watch out for three exciting new information sessions to be included in the line-up for 2025
Session 1: Why This Competition Matters
Click here to view
This session explores the significance of the competition and what entrants need to know:
- Why you should enter
- Who is eligible and what qualifies
- Conditions of entry
- The role of competitions in the art ecosystem
- Understanding the competitive landscape in visual arts
Session 2: Tips for Emerging Artists
Click here to view
Featuring guest speaker MJ Khan (Sasol Manager Group Digital Communication Platform) this session will cover:
- Defining what it means to be an “emerging artist”
- Developing a unique and compelling visual language
- Leveraging social media for career growth
Session 3: What it means to be an Emerging Artist
Click here to view
This session unpacks what it truly means to be an emerging artist and clarifies the kind of engagement Sasol New Signatures seeks, setting realistic expectations for participation in the competition.
Artists must deliver their completed artworks in person at one of eight designated collection points across South Africa on the following dates:
Tuesday, 10 June and Wednesday, 11 June 2025
Between 10:00 and 16:00
Each submission must be accompanied by a completed entry form and all required supporting documentation.
Whether you’re experimenting with new media or refining your signature style, Sasol New Signatures 2025 is your chance to shine on a national stage and become part of South Africa’s vibrant contemporary art legacy.
For more information and to access submission resources,
visit: 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
Video: CLICK HERE
Entry Form: CLICK HERE
Issued by:
Marina Smithers PR
+27 (0) 82 556 2084
marina@mspr.co.za
Collection points:
Bloemfontein
Oliewenhuis Art Museum, 16 Harry Smith Street, Bloemfontein
Tel: 051 447 9609
Email: oliewen@nasmus.co.za
Cape Town
Art B Gallery, Library Centre, Carl van Aswegen Street, Bellville, Cape Town
Tel: 021 917 1197
Email: artb@artb.co.za
Durban
KZNSA Gallery, 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, Durban
Tel: 031 277 1705
Email: gallery@kznsagallery.co.za
Johannesburg
Sasol Place, 50 Katherine Street, Wierda Valley, Sandton
Tel: 010 344 5000 (Sasol Place Main Reception)
Email: art@sasol.com
Polokwane
The Polokwane Art Museum, Library Gardens, corner Grobler & Hans van Rensburg Street, Polokwane
Tel: 015 290 2579/8
Email: AmosL@polokwane.gov.za
Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth):
NMU Bird Street Gallery – Nelson Mandela University, Bird Street Campus, 20 Bird Street, Central, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
Tel: 041 504 3293
Email: jonathan.vanderwalt@mandela.ac.za
Potchefstroom
Potchefstroom Museum, C/o Sol Plaatjie & Wolmarans Street, Potchefstroom
Cell: 071 331 7029 / 082 397 9367
Email: potchkuns@gmail.com
Pretoria
Pretoria Art Museum, corner Francis Baard and Wessels Streets, Arcadia Park, Pretoria
Tel: 012 358 6750
Email: artspta@mweb.co.za
