Meet the powerhouse behind the Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Laura Vincenti
As Cape Town prepares to host the highly anticipated Investec Cape Town Art Fair 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from 21 to 23 February, we caught up with fair director Laura Vincenti. A driving force behind the event, she shares insights into its significance and the lasting impact it has on the global art scene
This year's fair promises to be an unparalleled showcase, featuring 124 exhibitors from five continents, including a record-breaking 30 first-time galleries. The fair will bring together local and international art enthusiasts, galleries, and thought leaders. “The Investec Cape Town Art Fair has evolved significantly since its inception in 2013. Originally known as just the Cape Town Art Fair, it began with only 40 exhibitors and 130 artists, focusing primarily on South Africa’s contemporary art scene. The fair quickly became an essential platform for both emerging and established artists, offering a vital space to foster connections within the regional art ecosystem,” says Laura.
Further noting that in 2016, the fair was acquired by Fiera Milano, which led to its relocation to the Cape Town International Convention Centre and the expansion of its international reach which positioned Cape Town as a key destination for the global art calendar. “With the addition of Investec as the title sponsor in 2018, the fair was able to enhance its programming and create more opportunities for engagement with world-class artists, cultural institutions and collectors,” she adds.
Glamour: Please expand on the evolution of the Cape Town for the Investec Cape Town Art Fair 2025?
Laura: Over the years, the fair has grown exponentially. For 2025, we’re expecting the largest edition yet, with 125 exhibitors and a record-breaking number of international participants. It’s an exciting time to be leading this event alongside a dedicated and hard-working team because the growth reflects not only the increasing global recognition of Investec Cape Town Town as a leading platform for the discovery of contemporary art on the African continent but also an immense display of talent. Leading the Investec Cape Town Art Fair in 2025 is a privilege as it’s an opportunity to contribute to the fair’s continued evolution and to showcase the vibrancy and diversity of contemporary art in the current art climate.
Glamour: What makes the fair such an important platform for, and how has its global recognition grown?
Laura: The Investec Cape Town Art Fair has carved out a distinctive identity by positioning itself as a space of discovery, offering something unique within the global art fair landscape. While many international art fairs predominantly focus on established artists and galleries from the Northern Hemisphere, Investec Cape Town Art Fair embraces a different approach by making emerging artists and galleries from Africa and the world a core focus in its programming.
What sets the fair apart is its commitment to providing these emerging galleries and artists with a stage to showcase their work to an international audience. This focus on debuting new artists allows the fair to play an essential role in shaping and influencing the future of contemporary art.
The fair is the intersection between art from the African continent and the international art scene. Its firm presence on the global art fair calendar ensures that the connection is not only celebrated but also strengthened, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas, perspectives and opportunities that amplify emerging voices in the global art world.
Glamour: What impact does the fair have on Cape Town and the African art scene as a whole?
Laura: The Investec Cape Town Art Fair has had a profound impact on connecting the local art scene with the international one. Cape Town has been named the Top City in the World numerous times and the fair has truly become a cultural cornerstone for international visitors. As the only international fair on the African continent, the fair not only enhances the city’s global profile but also bolsters the local economy through increased tourism, hospitality and business opportunities. However, its influence extends far beyond these economic benefits. The fair has played a crucial role in cultivating a vibrant art ecosystem in Cape Town, offering local galleries, artists and institutions an invaluable opportunity to network with international collectors, curators and art professionals. This dynamic exchange has fostered an environment of growth, innovation and collaboration, helping to position Cape Town as a central hub for contemporary art in Africa.
Glamour: What excites you most about this year’s record-breaking participation of 30 first-time galleries?
Laura: It’s confirmation of our position as a leading international art fair with recognition reaching all corners of the globe. As the fair continues to grow, we’re not only witnessing an increase in the number of new applications, but also a notable rise in the quality of these submissions. These numbers are a reflection of the dedication and hard work by both our team and exhibitors. The fair's success generates increased interest and this momentum continues to propel its evolution.
Glamour: Please expand on this year’s theme?
Laura: With the 2025 theme of PLAY, the fair is set to spotlight a powerful thematic shift towards experimentation, curiosity, and activism. This concept invites artists, curators and guests of the fair to embrace exploration and the joy of discovery. The theme embodies the limitless potential of art to surprise, challenge and engage. It speaks to the playful, yet deeply purposeful, nature of artistic expression. PLAY encourages a dynamic interaction between art and audience, urging participants to not only appreciate the work on display but to engage with the practice that created it. Visitors can expect to see works that challenge conventional thinking and spark conversations, making the 2025 fair a truly interactive and thought-provoking event.
Glamour: How has the fair succeeded in attracting globally renowned galleries alongside emerging talent?
Laura: The fair has succeeded in attracting globally renowned galleries alongside emerging talent by establishing itself as a platform that champions innovation and discovery. Over the years, it has built its standing through a dedication to ensuring success for its participants and providing a unique space for emerging voices to be heard. The fair strikes a careful balance, offering a platform where established names can be showcased alongside new talent, creating a dynamic and inclusive environment for a wide range of collectors, curators and art professionals.
Its recognition as a key event has gained significant global attention, positioning the fair as an essential fixture on the international art calendar. This strong standing has helped build trust with leading galleries, who see it as an opportunity to connect with a highly engaged audience while aligning with the latest trends in the art world. By fostering this unique blend of established and emerging talent, the fair has created a compelling proposition for both global heavyweights and up-and-coming artists and galleries.
Glamour: How does the Investec Cape Town Art Fair showcase the diversity and depth of African creativity?
Laura: The Investec Cape Town Art Fair serves as a vital and dynamic platform for artists from across the African continent to connect their work to a global audience. Playing a critical role in fostering cultural exchange and dialogue between the global North and South, the fair champions the concept of the ‘Unbound’- unbound by borders, identities, boundaries. In this way, the fair serves as a bridge between two disparate and often contrasting art worlds—one shaped by centuries of Western dominance in the global art market, and the other emerging from the rich, multifaceted and frequently underrepresented artistic traditions of Africa.
The diversity of artists among our exhibitors showcases the immense talent the continent produces. Highlighting lost histories, untold stories and ancestral practices- the fair is an opportunity to engage with an array of voices that challenge dominant narratives with reflections on the past and forecasts of the future.
Glamour: What role do local galleries play in shaping the fair’s identity and contributing to its success?
Laura: Local galleries are a cornerstone to the Investec Cape Town Art Fair. From its inception in 2013, it is the return of these galleries that ensure its success. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the fair to transition to a digital platform, it was the dedication and commitment of these galleries that ensured the fair’s continuity and relevance during those challenging times. Although we have since recovered from the pandemic’s effects, we experienced a decline in international participation in the years that followed, which made the support of our local exhibitors even more vital to the fair’s ongoing success. Local galleries strengthen the fair’s connection to the South African art scene but also confirm its authenticity and cultural relevance Their curatorial choices, programming and dedication to supporting local talent ensure that the fair consistently highlights fresh and exciting artistic voices.
Glamour: Do you see a growing appetite for African art internationally, and how does the fair contribute to this trend?
Laura: The African continent is a powerful space of discovery, vibrating with energy of unspoken histories, revolutionary thought and complex histories of cultural resilience. These narratives, both past and present, inform the works of contemporary African artists with practices that are deeply rooted in a collective consciousness shaped by centuries of social, political and cultural transformation. For collectors and gallerists, the continent offers an opportunity to seek out emerging artists who shift the trajectory of global discourse and fundamentally challenge entrenched ideologies. By integrating traditional practice with contemporary methods, artists from Africa engage with themes that reshape and redefine the art world’s role in a decolonialised society. The international art market is seeking out more and more opportunities to platform and amplify unique and fresh perspectives, of which many can be found at Investec Cape Town Art Fair.
Glamour: What are some of the key themes shaping this year’s discussions on contemporary art?
Laura: Through the Talks Programme, Art Walks, curated and core sections, the fair maintains its relevance in the contemporary art climate through discussions and explorations on sustainability, environmentalism, the role of technology and AI, identity and a return to playfulness. With PLAY, we are able to encompass all of those narratives – play as curiosity, play as discovery, play as experimentation and playing an active role in critical global discourse.
Glamour: What’s your long-term vision for the fair and its role in the global art world?
Laura: The long-term vision is the strengthening of the Investec Cape Town Art Fair as a leading international art fair on the African continent and the destination for discovery of contemporary art. The fair will continue to experience exponential growth, engaging with global dialogues and current themes, while evolving into a robust platform that nurtures meaningful cross-cultural connections. By expanding its reach and deepening its impact, the fair aims to become an indispensable event on the global art calendar, fostering innovation, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas across borders.
Glamour: How do you see the fair continuing to innovate and push boundaries in the years to come?
Laura: In years to come, Investec Cape Town Art Fair will continue to innovate and engage with the continually evolving contemporary art scene as it has done for the past twelve years. By hosting world class art professionals through the Talks Programme, Art Walks Programme, curated and core section, the fair will platform new and revolutionary ideas that showcase the emerging voices of the next generation of practitioners. Through building this platform for those voices, we will continue to empower and inspire the future generation of art makers that extends far beyond the week of the fair and leave a lasting legacy of creativity, innovation and inclusivity that reshapes the global art landscape for years to come.
Over the past twelve years, the Investec Cape Town Art Fair has solidified its reputation as a catalyst for innovation and a cornerstone of the contemporary art world. Looking ahead, the fair remains committed to driving innovation and engagement by bringing together world-class art professionals through its visionary Talks Programme, Art Walks Programme, curated and core sections. These platforms are vital to empower and inspire the next generation of art practitioners while championing ground breaking and revolutionary voices. The Investec Cape Town Art Fair will not only adapt to the ever-evolving global art landscape but also shape it - leaving a legacy of creativity, empowerment and transformation that resonates for generations to come.
Glamour: What message would you like to share with the global art community about the Investec Cape Town Art Fair?
Laura: Investec Cape Town Art Fair is the leading platform for discovery of contemporary art on the African continent. Situated in a city renowned for its vibrant and diverse tourism scene, the fair is an essential event for art professionals worldwide, offering a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge ideas and groundbreaking art. We invite the global art community to join us in this exciting journey of discovery, collaboration, and growth, as we continue to shape the future of art together.
As the leading platform for discovery of contemporary art on the African continent, the fair not only offers a space to engage with new and emerging voices, it offers a profound opportunity to truly appreciate the transformative power of art and the creative process. Art transcends mere aesthetic or what is seen- it is what is felt and thought. It provides moments of reflection, insight and revelation, encouraging us to observe the world more keenly and recognise our capacity to influence meaningful change. It challenges us to confront uncomfortable truths and consider new possibilities, all while fostering a deeper connection to the world around us and understanding the profound impact a voice can have.
We invite the global art community to join us on this journey of discovery, collaboration and growth. Together, we are shaping the future of art while fostering a legacy of creativity that inspires individuals and communities to see the world—and their role in it—through a richer, more imaginative lens.