The Fine Art Gallery at Swakopmund has officially opened entries for the fifth edition of the Africa Wildlife Artist of the Year (Away) 2027 competition, featuring an increased first prize of N$50 000 and a solo exhibition for the winner.
The initiative marks nearly two decades of conservation support by gallery founder Martina von Wenzel, who first established the Swakopmund gallery in 2007.
The gallery’s formal involvement in wildlife conservation began around 2009 through fundraising raffles, online auctions, and collaborative art projects.
One early highlight included a portrait of the famous desert elephant Voortrekker by artist Christine Lamberth, which raised N$68 000 for Elephant Human Relations Aid to protect water points along the Ugab River.
Building on those early efforts, Away was officially launched in 2023 to create a structured yearly platform where artists worldwide could contribute directly to Namibian conservation projects.
Von Wenzel says the drive behind Away is personal and rooted in preserving Namibia’s natural environment for future generations.
“As a wildlife lover and a mother, I want future generations to experience Africa’s extraordinary wildlife as we still can today, roaming freely in its natural habitat, rather than knowing these animals only from zoos or enclosed reserves,” she says.
She says addressing human-wildlife conflict requires active support rather than good intentions alone, paying tribute to long-time corporate sponsor B2Gold Namibia for supporting the initiative since its inception.
The 2027 edition will benefit Save the Rhino Trust Namibia, an organisation dedicated to protecting the country’s desert-adapted black rhinoceros population.
The official artwork chosen for the 2027 launch is titled ‘Safe for Now’, a sensitive portrait of a young rhino created by James Pickering, a finalist in the 2025 competition.
Participating artists are, however, free to depict any African wildlife species across various mediums, including painting, drawing, and sculpture.
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