The La Motte Ateljee (Art Gallery) is proud and excited to launch its second Open Call!
During the 2026–2027 festive season, the Ateljee will present the Top 30 artworks of the prestigious Sovereign Art Foundation African Art Prize, marking the inaugural collaboration between the Foundation and La Motte Wine Estate.
This Pan-African, nomination-only competition will showcase the most compelling contemporary artistic voices on the continent. To extend this spirit of creative exchange, the Ateljee will open its Annex to showcase selected local artists working on paper in response to the theme: Life is a Dream.
The title comes from the 17th-century Spanish play by Pedro Calderón de la Barca, which reflects on the line between reality and illusion. He suggests that life can feel fleeting and theatrical, as if we are moving through something we do not fully understand. But perhaps a dream is not distant or philosophical. Perhaps it is something closer to us: a fond memory, a feeling of nostalgia, a long-awaited holiday, a personal ambition, or a special moment to celebrate and share.
Was it yesterday, or was it a dream? This Open Call invites artists to explore the space between remembering and imagining.
A top 10 artworks will be chosen by a selected panel which will be framed and exhibited.
The top 20 artists will be invited to produce a series of five original artworks each. These works will be made available for sale, unframed for the duration of the showcase period.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Medium: Original artworks and prints on paper
Theme: Life is a Dream
Size: A3 (strictly 297 mm x 420 mm). No 3-dimensional work
Format: Unframed, unmounted
Submission period: 20 April – 20 June 2026
Judging process: 21 - 31 June 2026
Results: 4 August 2026
Series production period: 4 August – 30 September 2026
Delivery of selected works: 1 – 10 October 2026
Showcase period: 10 November 2026 – 20 February 2027
Submission: One high-resolution photograph clearly showing all four corners of the paper, along with a high-resolution scan.
Submit both images to submissions.ateljee@la-motte.co.za
