Cape Town’s Deep South opens its doors as Open Studios Fish Hoek & Clovelly (OSFHC) returns for its 2026 edition from Friday, 9 October to Sunday, 11 October.
The self-guided art trail invites the public into the studios of over 30 artists at 20 locations across Fish Hoek and Clovelly, offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at how local art is made, from painting and printmaking to ceramics, sculpture and mixed media.
Since its inaugural edition last year, the event has grown from 19 featured artists to more than 30 this year, including two new shared studio hubs, Mothership Studios and Fish Hoek Studios, each housing a cluster of artists working across painting, sculpture, illustration and mixed media. Despite the leap in scale, every participating artist is put forward by a dedicated selection committee, keeping the same curatorial standard that defines Open Studios Fish Hoek & Clovelly (OSFHC).
Newcomers to this year’s trail include bronze sculptor Chris Bladen, whose finely detailed sculptures of fish and birds draw on his own fly-fishing and birdwatching; oil painter Mandy Lake, whose ocean-inspired abstractions have been shown in galleries from George to Ballito; and photographer Angela Buckland, with work exhibited at the Iziko National Gallery and Durban Art Gallery, and published across three books. They’re joined by illustrator Nicolene Louw, with pen-and-ink work shown as far afield as Switzerland and Portugal, and multidisciplinary artist Jasper Wolfeman, with paintings and sculptural floral arrangements shown across Cape Town, Barcelona and the USA.
A ticketed preview event will take place on Friday, 9 October, giving collectors and art lovers the opportunity to explore the studios ahead of the free public days. Proceeds from the preview will support Project Flamingo, which provides timeous, compassionate and holistic care to breast cancer patients within the public health care system. Tickets for the preview are R150 per person and are on sale via Quicket.
The opening function will take place at iconic department store AP Jones on Fish Hoek Main Road (M4) at 09h30 on the Friday, and guests will be treated to a bespoke installation and live performance. They will also receive a complimentary coffee voucher from Peak Café, also on the Main Road in Fish Hoek, a glass of wine from Lubanzi Wines, which will be served at the artists’ studios, and a wearable badge from Project Flamingo.
Once the preview day is over, studios will open free of charge to the public on Saturday and Sunday from 10h00 to 16h00, giving visitors the same opportunity to acquire original artworks directly from the artists.
Besides all the inspiring artworks on show, there is lots to see and do, including interactive and engaging activities. At Peak Café, anyone can create their own mini artwork on a Post-it note and add it to a live, growing exhibition of art for all and by all. Post-it notes and drawing materials are kindly supplied by The Write Shoppe.
OSFHC artists have been challenged to compete against one another to create an exciting eco-friendly wine container. These will be on show at the studio stops and members of the public can vote for their favourite Lubanzi Eco Wine Bucket Challenge creation. Prizes are up for grabs for both the public and the winning concept.
To make navigating the event easier, a full map with the route guide, studio locations and points of interest, as well as artist profiles and other information, is available at openstudios.org.za. Regular updates will be shared on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/openstudiosfishhoekclovelly/) in the lead-up to the event.
OSFHC 2026 is proudly supported by Property Peninsula, AP Jones, Peak Café, Zip Print, Novus, Lubanzi Wines and The Write Shoppe.
All the details you need :
Location: Fish Hoek & Clovelly, Cape Town
Open studios: FREE public entry from Saturday 10 October to Sunday 11 October, from 10h00 to 16h00.
Collectors and enthusiasts preview: Friday 9 October 2026. The opening event starts at 09h30 at AP Jones, and studios stay open until 16h00. Tickets are R150 in aid of charity and available at Quicket.