Mbombela Art Gallery has officially announced the first-place winners of its 22nd annual visual arts competition, held on August 21, 2026, in Mpumalanga. The prestigious competition recognized top talent across various categories, celebrating both formal and non-formal schooling divisions in visual art and design.
Madri van Niekerk secured the top honor in the highly competitive formal visual art schooling category, showcasing exceptional skill and artistic vision. In the non-formal visual art schooling category, Alex Khumalo was awarded first place, highlighting the diverse pathways to artistic excellence celebrated by the gallery.
The competition also featured dedicated categories for design. Demi Claeys earned first place in the formal design schooling category, demonstrating outstanding creativity and technical proficiency. Tineke van Dyk received the first-place award in the non-formal design schooling category, further underscoring the breadth of talent present in the region's artistic community.
Hosted by the Mbombela Art Gallery, the annual event serves as a significant platform for emerging and established artists and designers to present their work. The 22nd iteration continued its tradition of fostering artistic development and recognizing excellence within the local arts scene.
The announcement of these first-place winners concludes this year's competition, drawing attention to the vibrant artistic landscape of Mpumalanga and the promising future of its creative talents.