Msaki headlines 3rd edition of the L’Atelier Art and Lifestyle Fair

Launched in 2024 at the Kromdraai Impact Hub in Krugersdorp, the Absa L’Atelier Art and Lifestyle Fair moved to the Nirox Sculpture Park last year.

For its third edition, the fair is taking over the Mall of Africa in Midrand.

Celebrating 40 years of the Absa L’Atelier Art awards

This year’s edition is fittingly headlined by singer-songwriter Msaki, who is also a visual artist in her own right, alongside the Soweto Gospel Choir and Elaine.

The fair connects Africa’s art and fashion with culture and lifestyle, taking its cue from the Absa L’Atelier Art awards, which were launched four decades ago to cultivate and celebrate the continent’s emerging visual artists.

The event weaves in the celebration of the L’Atelier awards’ 40th anniversary, with culture and lifestyle integrating against the backdrop of an exhibition by this year’s 12 finalists. The 2026 winners will also be unveiled at the fair.

The four winners will be declared Absa L’Atelier Ambassadors, each receiving masterclasses, four months of mentorship and a two-month art residency in South Africa in 2027, with the opportunity to stage a solo exhibition within two years.

To date, more than 100 alumni have been celebrated and nurtured by these awards across various African countries where the Absa Group has a primary corporate banking presence.

The financial services provider also launched the Gerard Sekoto Award in 2004, and so far 22 winners have been crowned. Since Sekoto was a South African artist, it is only fitting how this award has been dominated by South African artists so far as 21 of the 22 winners have been from Mzansi.

• When: Saturday 10 October, gates open at 10:00 am
• Where: Mall of Africa, Waterfall City
• Cost: From R175 on Howler, free entrance for children aged 12 and under

Inside this year’s event

Headlining act Msaki might have emerged onto the South African arts and culture scene in 2008 as a musician, but she is also trained in fine art, graphic design, film photography and curatorial practice.

She unveiled herself publicly as a visual artist around 2022 with the exhibition Platinumb Heart: Of Love and Protest, which took place at Nirox, and she brings a wealth of creative prowess with her to this weekend’s performance.

The Soweto Gospel Choir is one of Mzansi’s proudest exports and has enjoyed many years of global success since being formed in 2003. They bring to the stage the colourful performance that has achieved victory at the Grammy Awards and won hearts across the world.

R&B artist Elaine will also take to the stage with her South African Music Award (SAMA) winning vocals, which secured her the Most Streamed Song of the Year for her break-out hit You're the One.

Senior Specialist: Art and Museum Curator at Absa Group, Dr Paul Bayliss, said the fair presents the finalists’ work beyond the rigid walls of a gallery, inviting visitors to engage with it as part of a shared experience.

“The 55 artists who have become Absa L’Atelier Art Ambassadors before this year’s show are a testament to what happens when talent is met with sustained opportunity. Now, 12 finalists bring their own perspectives to that legacy.”

“I hope the four winners use the opportunities ahead of them to keep developing their practice, challenge the way we see familiar things, and give a voice to the stories and communities that have too often gone unheard,” he added.

In addition to the artist performances and the exhibition, guests can indulge in fashion showcases, wine tasting and the offerings at the food and beverage stalls on site.

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