Aspire Art Finds its New Cape Town Home at Mandela Rhodes Place

Entrance from 21 Church Street, Cape Town

Standing proudly on the corner of Wale and Burg Streets, Mandela Rhodes Place has watched over the streets of the historic heart of Cape Town for more than a century. It is within this storied setting that Aspire begins 2026 with momentum and excitement, as we prepare to welcome collectors into our new Cape Town home.

Designed in 1902 by Sir Herbert Baker as Rhodes House, it was among the first buildings in the city constructed from granite and sandstone quarried from Table Mountain. Its Cape Dutch and Arts & Crafts details remain quietly intact, a testament to craftsmanship and memory, while the building itself has grown and evolved, blending historic walls with contemporary lines and design. Originally built in 1903 to house the newly founded De Beers mining corporation, the company donated the building to the Mandela Rhodes Foundation in 2002, transforming the building into a space devoted to leadership, dialogue, and African futures. Today it stands as a place of layered narratives, where past and present meet, and where reimagining is a constant part of its life.

View from Wale Street

Following the opening of our Johannesburg offices at the Trumpet Building last year, the Cape Town move marks another step in Aspire’s ongoing growth. Both spaces are shaped by a strong sense of place, and both offer a setting in which South African and African modern and contemporary art can be encountered with care and attention.

From 1 February 2026, Aspire opens the doors to this new space as Cape Town comes alive for the Cape Town Art Fair. Amid the city’s energy and global visitors, Aspire at Mandela Rhodes Place offers a moment to pause — to look closely, gather, and engage.

Interior view of gallery space and auction room

We look forward to welcoming collectors, our valued clients, friends and all art aficionados, as this marks just the start of what will be a wonderful year.

For more information, reach out to ct@aspireart.net