Our Story
Zeitz MOCAA celebrates the art of Africa and its diaspora – a gathering space for storytelling, creativity, and exchange.
Who We Are
A home for African art, ideas, and connection.
As a public, not-for-profit museum, Zeitz MOCAA exhibits, collects, preserves, and researches contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. We host international exhibitions, develop educational and enrichment programmes, encourage intercultural understanding, and strive for access for all.
Our galleries feature rotating temporary exhibitions alongside a permanent collection that continues to grow and reflect the continent’s creative pulse.
The Collection
Art of Africa & Its Diaspora.
Our collection tells a living story of Africa. It spans painting, sculpture, photography, installation, and performance – works that reflect the complexity and vitality of life across the continent and beyond.
Each exhibition builds conversation. We present art that questions, reveals, and celebrates. From renowned masters to emerging voices, Zeitz MOCAA offers artists a platform to be seen on their own terms, and audiences a chance to see Africa anew.
Architecture as Art.
Our home is a work of art. Designed by Heatherwick Studio, the transformation of a 1920s grain silo into a contemporary museum redefines what African architecture can mean – bold, intelligent, and rooted in place.
The atrium’s carved form, inspired by a single grain of corn, rises through the heart of the building. Light floods through 5.5-metre-wide tubes, connecting industrial heritage with modern design.
The building honours the people who shaped it – from its original builders to the teams who reimagined it – and stands as a symbol of Cape Town’s evolving story: a working harbour turned creative landmark.
Art belongs to everyone
People, Programmes & Impact.
Our commitment to access and education runs through every level of the museum. The BMW Centre for Art Education welcomes learners of all ages, while the Atelier provides studio space for emerging Cape Town-based artists. Together, they make Zeitz MOCAA a living, working platform – not just a place where art is shown, but where it’s made, studied, and shared.
Our curators and educators collaborate to present exhibitions and events that connect contemporary African art to global conversations on identity, justice, environment, and belonging. Each programme aims to inspire curiosity and connection, turning art into a shared language.
Why it matters.
Every membership, donation, and partnership
supports artists, education, and access.
A Global Conversation.
Zeitz MOCAA connects Cape Town to the world.
Through partnerships with international institutions, global council members, and digital storytelling, we bring African perspectives into global spaces and global audiences into African art.
We collaborate widely – from artist exchanges to co-curated exhibitions and touring shows. Each partnership strengthens a growing network dedicated to expanding the visibility and influence of African creativity.