We’re excited to announce that The Deckle Edge is an official sponsor of The Portrait Awards 2025, one of South Africa’s most respected portrait competitions hosted by Rust-en-Vrede Gallery.
As part of this year’s event, we have the honour of selecting our favourite portrait from the Top 100 finalists. The artist we choose will receive a sponsored prize hamper valued at over R10,000, filled with exceptional tools to support their creative journey.
Our Deckle prize includes:
- A Lyra Polycolor Artist Atelier 106 Set worth over R8,000
- A Museo A-frame IBIZA easel and Museo artist apron worth over R2,400
- A Schmincke samples goody bag
- An A2 Artboard Professional Artist Canvas
This is a competition that truly celebrates the depth, skill, and emotion behind portraiture, and we are proud to support such a meaningful platform for artists.
If you’re an artist interested in entering or want to find out more about the awards and what sets this opportunity apart, visit The Portrait Awards 2025 competition page. Entries Open Online 05/06/2025 and closes 14/06/2025
We look forward to seeing the incredible talent on display and can’t wait to select our winner.
The Portrait Awards is one of South Africa’s most prestigious art competitions, held every two years and open to artists aged 18 and over who live in the country. Organised by Rust-en-Vrede Gallery, the competition celebrates original, two-dimensional portraits created from life using any traditional medium. With over R200,000 in prize money and a solo exhibition for the overall winner, it attracts hundreds of entries. Judging is anonymous and based purely on the strength of the work, with the 2025 panel including artist Thonton Kabeya, art historian and curator Dr Dineke Orton, and writer and critic Sean O’Toole. The Top 40 finalists will be featured in a national touring exhibition. Entries for the 2025 awards are open online from 5 to 14 June 2025.
2023 Winner
André Serfontein
The Prince and Princess of Prince Street (Johan & Bongi)
Oil on Canvas