About the Sanlam Art Collection
The Sanlam Art Collection came into being on 9 March 1965 when the Sanlam Board approved the acquisition of 12 paintings by well-known artists for the production of a prestige calendar in the coming year. The collection has grown considerably since and has proved to be a good investment, with the current valuation of the collection exceeding twenty times what it has cost to acquire.
the collection is seen not only in Sanlam offices but also in touring exhibitions across South Africa. Sanlam continues to acquire significant images by established and emerging artists in South Africa and with this Centennial exhibition reaffirms its commitment to supporting the visual arts for generations to come.
About the Curator
Stefan Hundt
Stefan Hundt has been curator of the Sanlam Art Collection since 1997.
Since his appointment the collection has expanded with additions of some 500 artworks dating from late 19th Century to the present. The collection boasts a representative overview of South African art.
As curator Hundt is also responsible for exhibitions. Over the past decade he has been responsible for the regular exhibitions at the Sanlam Art Gallery in Bellville, Sanlam Art Lounge in Sandton, as well as regular national travelling exhibitions that have showcased the Sanlam Art Collection and first time solo exhibitions by under-recognised artists.
Prior to his appointment at Sanlam, he served as curator for the Oliewenhuis Art Museum, a satellite of the National Museum in Bloemfontein. He continues to practice as an art historian publishing articles on corporate collecting and catalogues featuring the Sanlam Art Collection and selected artists. For the past 26 years he has played an active role in the South African art world, 21 of which have been dedicated to expanding the Sanlam’s investment in its art collection.
Hundt also leads the Sanlam Private Wealth Art Advisory Service which was launched in September 2010. It is the first of its kind in South Africa. The Art Advisory Service helps investors choose artworks that are likely to enjoy good returns, as well as set up an art portfolio that forms part of an investor’s overall portfolio.
Hundt holds a BA in Fine Arts with honours from the University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) and studied History of Art at the University of Cape Town (UCT).
