As the home and studio of the South African artist faces an uncertain future Deon Viljoen says its demise will mark a significant cultural loss
Often embroiled in controversy during her lifetime, the South African-born painter, sculptor, and collector Irma Stern would probably have launched a fierce counteroffensive to the unexpected announcement that her home and studio, left by her in trust for the benefit of future generations, will be closed indefinitely. The Irma Stern Museum, which is located near the University of Cape Town, has only recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Future plans for her collections of African, Chinese, European, Indian, PreColombian and Southeast-Asian works of art, as well as an invaluable collection of her own paintings, sculpture and works on paper, are still shrouded in uncertainty, with speculation rife.
The joint decision by the University of Cape Town (the body responsible for the museum’s staffing and upkeep) and the Irma Stern Trust (administered by Nedgroup Trust) left supporters of the museum and collectors of her art in shock. A petition in support of keeping the museum open, initiated by the South African Art Times after the announcement of the closure in October, has garnered signatures of nearly 30,000 friends, artists, academics and supporters. A public meeting in November 2025 organised by Nedgroup Trust did little to dispel suspicion about the Trust’s motives.
At the meeting, Terry Behan, a spokesperson for the Irma Stern Trust, said the museum would reopen after refurbishment of the storage facilities and security. How the Trust will be able to pay for such an undertaking was not disclosed. Behan said the artworks would be stored securely in the meantime but could give no reopening date for the venue.
