The Stellenbosch Modern and Contemporary (SMAC) Art Gallery officially opened in November 2006 on the first floor of the renovated De Wet Centre in Stellenbosch as one of largest commercial exhibition spaces in the Western Cape. Since then, the gallery has earned acclaim for successfully hosting a series of thought-provoking exhibitions accompanied by well researched publications.

SMAC Art Gallery is primarily concerned with the significance of historical and contemporary art movements in South Africa such as the modernist abstract era, the protest era and the neglected contribution of African artists in the post-war period. The gallery therefore aims to provide a platform to continually present exhibitions that assist in the process of reviewing and revising South African art. To date SMAC has published more than ten art catalogues and books. Recent exhibition highlights include Revisions +: Expanding the Narrative of South African Art, Abstract South African Art from the Isolation Years: Part III, the large mid-career retrospectives of the artists Anton Karstel and Wayne Barker, as well as a major retrospective exhibition of renowned artist Erik Laubscher.

SMAC is also committed to expanding South Africa’s participation and contact with the international art community. In 2009 the gallery facilitated and sponsored the participation of three artists; Wayne Barker, Kay Hassan and Johann Louw in an official collateral exhibition to the 53rd Venice Biennale entitled; Praise of Nature-Languages of the World. Another SMAC artist, Jake Aikman was also represented in a prestigious collateral exhibition to the Biennale entitled L’Anima Dell Acqua / The Spirit of Water. Subsequently, SMAC has been active in championing the return of South Africa in an official capacity to the Venice Biennale.

The gallery currently represents more than twenty established, contemporary and emerging artists and continues with an exciting, innovative and high profile programme of exhibitions and projects both locally and abroad.

The gallery expanded in 2009 by opening SMAC Space Stellenbosch and the SMAC Art Gallery Showroom in Cape Town. Both venues allow SMAC the freedom to engage in different projects that run concurrently with larger exhibitions in the main gallery.