Open Studios Kommetjie: Creativity On Show — And Up Close

Every December, the quiet coastal village of Kommetjie opens its doors for a special weekend when private homes and artists’ working studios become galleries — inviting the public in, not just to view finished pieces, but to meet the people behind the art.

This isn’t a conventional gallery crawl. It’s a celebration of process and place: paint-splattered benches, clay‑dust under fingernails, the hum of conversation, the quiet concentration of an artist at work. Guests are welcome to wander, linger, ask questions — to see the works‑in‑progress, tools on tables, and the very spaces where ideas take shape.

Since its launch in 2019, Open Studios Kommetjie has grown into a vibrant collective of local creatives working across a broad spectrum of practices — painting, printmaking, ceramics, sculpture, photography, mixed media and more. Open Studios Kommetjie runs from Friday 5th December through Sunday, between 10:00 and 17:00 daily, offering ample time for visitors to explore at a leisurely pace!

Meet the Artists — A Snapshot

This year’s edition brings together around 28 artists, blending new voices with returning practitioners and a guest artist. A few of the featured creators:

Nicolette Geldenhuys — working across printmaking, painting, drawing and collage. Her practices include dry‑point, monotype, low‑toxic etching, collagraph, watercolour and mixed‑media, often blending representational elements with abstraction to evoke emotional depth.
Jean America — bold and expressive mural and mixed‑media artist whose work reflects his lived experience, community roots and affinity to found materials.
Jenna Burchell — whose practice spans sculpture, interactive and conceptual work; she constructs “alternative archives” blending natural and digital elements to preserve stories, memory and place.
Leah Johnson — whose fibre‑based abstract works explore texture, layering, colour and spatial tension; her backgrounds in both architecture and art bring a unique structural sensibility.
Cathy Layzell — this year’s guest artist, whose luminous, atmospheric works are part of what refreshes and expands the collective’s creative pulse.
Kim Black – Celebrated for her vibrant, botanical paintings, Kim’s large-scale florals and interiors capture movement, colour, and life. Her Kommetjie studio welcomes visitors to see her process and engage directly with her work

And many more: painters, sculptors, photographers, ceramicists, mixed media and environmental artists — each with a distinct voice and studio, united under one shared weekend.

What “Meet the Artists” Means — And Why It Matters

Direct connection: When you visit a studio, the artist is present — you can ask about their technique, their inspiration, their materials. It’s a rare chance to see the person behind the work, understand their process, and learn about their journey.
Context & intimacy: Art shown inside the home or working studio creates a sense of intimacy. You see the surroundings, the sketches, the in‑progress pieces — giving insight into how context and environment shape creativity.
Diversity + discovery: With up to 30 artists participating each year — from newcomers testing new techniques to long‑time practitioners refining their voice — there’s real variety. For visitors, it’s many mini‑worlds of art under one village roof.
Accessibility + purchase‑ready: Entry is free, and each studio operates independently — many offer card or EFT payment, and can arrange delivery. So you can buy work directly from the artist, bridging the distance between creation and collection.

Why Open Studios Kommetjie Matters — For Community, Creativity, and Connection

In Kommetjie, art is not locked behind gallery doors. It lives in homes, in studios tucked behind fynbos and coastal lanes, in conversations over coffee — and on walls, shelves, and in gardens. Open Studios Kommetjie draws together a network of individuals who share space, inspiration, and a commitment to fine art.

For visitors, it’s a rare chance to meet artists face‑to‑face — not as distant creators, but as people: makers, thinkers, experimenters. It’s intimate, immediate — and honest.

Whether you’re curious, buying, collecting, or simply soaking it all in — this weekend is about more than art. It’s about people, place, process, and possibility.