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A playful new sculpture by South African artist Rix Wellmann adds a splash of colour and whimsy to Bree Street – Cape Town’s vibrant foodie capital, where restaurants, bars, galleries and boutiques come together in one lively city neighbourhood.

Artist Rix Wellmann, in partnership with The Artists Gallery at 34 Bree Street, recently unveiled Splish Splash, a sculpture installed on Waterkant Street directly outside the gallery's entrance. Wellmann revealed the artwork at an event celebrating its arrival in this vibrant part of the city.

Depicting a girl in a yellow polka-dot bikini wearing a diving mask, Splish Splash combines Wellmann’s characteristic sense of whimsy with an infectious spirit of playfulness. It is a work that invites a second look and a smile, bringing a moment of lightness and surprise to the everyday experience of walking through the city.

Positioned at the corner of Bree and Waterkant Street, a popular point for pedestrians in the city, the sculpture adds a distinctive landmark to the streetscape. Visitors exploring Bree Street can encounter the artwork at close quarters, beyond the walls of a traditional gallery.

“We are delighted that we have received permission from the City of Cape Town to bring this project to life,” says Jaret Loggenberg, Managing Director of The Artists Gallery. “We are very grateful for the opportunity to share such an exceptional artwork in a public space. Rix’s sculpture brings warmth, humour and personality to this corner of the city, and we hope it will give everyone who passes a reason to pause and smile.”

For The Artists Gallery, the installation reflects the belief that art can enrich both individual experiences and shared urban spaces. By bringing Splish Splash outdoors, the gallery and the artist invite a wider audience to engage with art as part of daily life, whether on a familiar walk, a visit to the neighbourhood or a journey towards the stadium or the Waterfront.

The Artists Gallery presents a wide selection of Rix Wellmann’s sculptures, spanning varied subjects, themes and sizes; from small pieces suited to a desk or tabletop to larger statement works such as Splish Splash. Visitors are invited to explore more of the artist’s distinctive imagination and playful approach inside the gallery.

Splish Splash is available in an exclusive limited edition of just five sculptures, priced at R180,000 excluding VAT, and is exclusively available at The Artists Gallery Cape Town.

For enquiries about Splish Splash and other works by Rix Wellmann, contact barbara@artistsgallery.co.za.

Make a Day of Bree Street

With its mix of galleries, independent shops, cocktail bars, cafés and some of Cape Town’s most talked-about restaurants, Bree Street is a natural destination for a day or evening of exploring. After viewing Splish Splash, make time to experience the neighbourhood’s food scene, with everything from casual bites to destination dining within easy walking distance.

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