The Absa Art Gallery

Visiting an art gallery is not reserved for scholars, or for artists. It’s for everyone with an interest in art, and this interest is not necessarily bound to creative thinkers.

Visiting the Absa Gallery is not your regular art gallery trip, considering it’s slap-bang in the middle of one of Africa’s biggest banks’ headquarters. The open-plan space is located in Johannesburg’s CBD, in Barclays Towers’ North building. Upon entering the building, you’ll be greeted by monumental artworks commissioned while the building was designed in 1999. An interesting synergy: considering the building is the collaborative result of architects and artists working together.

Some of the works that are exhibited in and around the offices and the rest of the building include a nearly six-storey tuft hand-woven carpet by South African artist Norman Catherine, an 11-meter tall wire sculpture by KwaZulu-Natal artist Walter Oltmann depicting replicas of African chairs, and a two-storey tall interactive piece by Lewis Levin, Paul Cawood and Susan Woolf.

The Absa Gallery has been described as an example of a “marriage between creative and corporate worlds.” This is not a strange though, as Absa used to be the title sponsor of that is now known as the Barclays L’Atelier - an art competition. The Absa gallery is however still the host for the event - a staple on art lovers’ calendars.

The gallery hosts monthly exhibitions, and if you’re out and about in town, why not make a day of it? Do some sightseeing, and hop on a red bus to see the city a little differently. The Absa Gallery is a block away from the Carlton Centre Shop, giving you a view of Johannesburg from 50-storeys high.

Admission: Free, but bring your ID document along to gain access for your own security, and that of others.

Visiting hours: Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 16:00