The Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden (SUBG) will officially launch its first permanent art collection, the James & Shirley Sherwood Botanical Art Collection, in May 2026. The collection will be housed in the historically significant SUBG office building, showcasing the artworks of many top South African botanical artists.

The collection captures the beauty and diversity of South Africa’s flora, while drawing attention to plants that are increasingly at risk. Through its combination of art, science and conservation, the project aims to deepen the connection to the Cape’s exceptional plant heritage, strengthen local botanical art capacity, and inspire greater awareness of the urgent need for plant conservation.

Botanical art at the SUBG was initiated in 2023 by Specialist Botanical Art Curator Karen Stewart, and the late Dr Donovan Kirkwood, former Curator of SUBG. The two recognised the value of botanical art to communicate the often-fleeting beauty of plants, to inspire people to connect with nature, and in doing so, raise awareness of the conservation needs of many plants. Since 2023, SUBG has hosted an annual Botanical Art and Photography exhibition, laying the groundwork for the establishment of this permanent botanical art collection. The James & Shirley Sherwood Botanical Art Collection will include paintings by some of South Africa’s top, and early-career botanical artists, each work tied to the garden’s conservation collections.

SUBG is home to over 200 collections of plant species at risk of extinction. Many of these plants are inaccessible in their natural habitat and can only be seen when visiting the garden. However, a number of plants in these special collections are dormant in summer, appearing neglected or disappearing completely for several months. The artworks in the James & Shirley Sherwood Botanical Art Collection will create a powerful reminder of the seasonal beauty of these plants and inspire visitors to appreciate nature throughout all seasons. Many plant species in the SUBG collections have never been illustrated before and many are extremely threatened or are only now being formally described by science.

A unique opportunity for botanical artists

Supporting and elevating botanical artists is central to this project. As such, participating artists will gain special access to rare living plant collections, they will also receive support from SUBG experts and academic partners to strengthen their scientific understanding and reinforce the importance of accuracy in botanical illustrations.Early-career botanical artists will receive special support through a mentoring programme led by experienced South African botanical artists.

Through this initiative the SUBG hopes to formally establish the James & Shirley Sherwood Botanical Art Collection as the only formal scientific institutional home for botanical art in South Africa.

Donation opportunity

Patrons of the arts and corporate partners are invited to be a part of a prestigious, high-profile project that will document the precious flora of the Cape and South Africa. The artworks will be permanently housed, curated and cared for by a specialist team at SUBG.

About the team

This collaborative project is the initiative of Karen Stewart M.Phil (specialising in Botanical Illustration) and Chair of the Botanical Artists’ Association of southern Africa’s Cape branch; Dr. Donovan Kirkwood (PhD Botany Ecology) former Curator of the SUBG; Annerie Senekal (Acting Curator of SUBG); Martine Robinson B (Arch) a well-respected South African botanical artist focusing on rare and threatened geophytes, and academic partner Prof. Léanne Dreyer, expert in the mega-diverse Cape Oxalis. Vicki Thomas and Chris Lochner serve on the project’s selection panel.

Contact

Funders can request a detailed proposal and budget projection information from Annerie Senekal here. 

Artists who wish to apply to become involved in the project can email the art curator: Karen Stewart. 

For project details and updates please click here and follow us on Instagram: @subotgarden