10 Things to See, Do and Experience at Solo Studios X in the Riebeek Valley

For three days this October, Riebeek Kasteel will become a meeting point for art, design, food, wine, and the particular pleasure of slowing down in the countryside.

Solo Studios returns from 23 - 25 October for its 10th edition, marking a decade since the festival first brought artists, collectors, and curious visitors together in the Riebeek Valley. While the studios remain at the heart of the experience, this year’s programme extends beyond the gallery walls, with exhibitions, garden installations, workshops, architecture, food, and wine woven into the weekend.

Here are 10 things worth making time for.

1. Discover the artists behind the work

More than 60 artists, five galleries, and a collection of exhibitions form the backbone of Solo Studios X. One of the festival’s defining qualities is its emphasis on meeting artists in their own creative spaces, offering a more personal way of encountering the work.

Among the returning participants is The Collective, a group of 16 largely mid-career and emerging female artists from Kommetjie. Their exhibition explores two themes – Solo in Colour and Where is Home? – through painting, sculpture, ceramics, and other media.

There is also a new intergenerational collaboration in the form of Creative Kin Collective. Artist Wiehan de Jager and his children, Jewel and Nathan, have developed a shared creative practice that grew from the simple act of making and experimenting together.

2. Take home a piece of Solo Studios history

To mark the festival’s 10th anniversary, 10 artists from the original group involved in Solo Studios have each created 10 original prints. The works have been brought together into 10 limited-edition collector’s boxes.

Emma Willemse, André van Vuuren, Solly Smook, Sharon Bischoff, Wiehan de Jager, Riaan van Zyl, Gordon Williams, Lizette Visser, Tamlin Blake, and Kevan Moses are among the artists represented. The boxes are intended to function both as artworks and as an archive of the festival’s first decade.

3. See Brazilian creativity through a South African lens

For the first time, Solo Studios will also introduce a collection of Brazilian art and design. Curated by Julia Franco of Sea Point gallery NOSSO, the exhibition brings together handcrafted pieces across woodwork, tapestries, ceramics, and functional design.

It is a colourful exploration of Brazilian craft and contemporary creativity, while also creating a connection between the artistic cultures of South Africa and Brazil.

4. Wander through a one-hectare kitchen garden

Art isn't the only reason to spend time outdoors. The Valley Potager offers another kind of visual experience: a one-hectare vegetable and fruit garden created by Jan Seidel in the style of a traditional European kitchen garden.

Originally grazing land, the garden now features geometric planting, pergolas, fountains, and a surprisingly abundant mix of produce, from multi-coloured beetroot and Thai limes to pineapples. There is also a cut-flower garden, with the Kasteelberg mountain providing a dramatic backdrop.

5. Step inside an unusual sustainable home

One of the more intimate experiences on the programme is a guided walk through EcoPlace, the home and studio of artist Louis Jansen van Vuuren and his partner, Hardy Olivier.

Completed in 2024, the house was built without cement, using recycled plastic and fabric, and incorporates works by Jansen van Vuuren and artists he admires. The artist himself will lead the tour, offering insight into both the building and his creative life between South Africa and France.

The tour takes place on 24 October and requires pre-booking.

6. Look for sculpture among the gardens

Two of Riebeek Kasteel's gardens will become temporary outdoor galleries, with sculpture installed in their existing landscapes.

Curated by Ilse Schermer of Stellenbosch's IS Art Gallery, the installations at Huis van RAAF and The Valley Potager will include works by artists such as Wilma Cruise, Strijdom van der Merwe, and Jackie Lloyd.

7. Go beyond looking with a walkabout or talk

For those wanting more context around the work, Solo Studios offers a programme of artist-led walkabouts and talks.

Saturday's walkabouts include opportunities to visit artists in their studios or spend more concentrated time with individual exhibitions. Artists Wiehan de Jager and Clayton Sutherland will also unpack the creative process behind their collaborative ceramic works.

Elsewhere, architectural historian Dr André van Graan will lead a walking tour through Riebeek West, while a specialist from Strauss & Co. will discuss the art of collecting. 

8. Make dinner part of the itinerary

The Nights of the Long Table bring together the Valley's food and wine culture in a series of communal dinners.

This year's options include a modern Japanese dinner by Cheyne Morris of SAISEI, a Big Fat Italian Table by Giuseppe, and an evening at the Royal Hotel. Each offers a different interpretation of the long-table dinner, accompanied by Swartland wine and the festivity that comes from sitting down with strangers and fellow festival-goers.

9. Taste your way through the Swartland

Wine is naturally woven into a weekend in this part of the country. Riebeek Valley Wine Co. will host a curated tasting, while visitors can also venture into the surrounding vineyards for tastings at Kloovenburg, Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines, Allesverloren Wine Estate, and Marras.

It is an easy way to add another dimension to a weekend otherwise centred on art – and to experience the landscape that has helped shape the character of the Swartland.

10. End the weekend with music in the garden

The final afternoon moves from art to music at The Valley Potager. The Art of Music begins with a classical quartet before moving into a community youth project's steel-band performance and, eventually, a set from DJ Cool J.

With the garden as its setting and Swartland wine on hand, it offers a fitting conclusion to a weekend spent moving between studios, galleries, gardens, and village streets.

Planning your Solo Studios weekend

The festival runs from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October, with an official opening taking place on Thursday evening for Premier Ticket Pass holders and invited guests.

For first-time visitors, the weekend is best approached without trying to see everything at once. Friday offers the chance to explore the village and its studios on foot, while Saturday brings walkabouts, talks, and further exhibitions. Sunday provides time for a final studio visit before the closing celebration at The Valley Potager.