The Portrait Awards Winner 2025 Malik Mani with his work, "Mask", pencil on paper.

Portrait Award 2025: Malik Mani Takes Top Prize with “Mask”

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·1 September 2025

It’s a big win for Upington and the Northern Cape, Malik Mani has just taken first place at the 2025 Portrait Award. His pencil drawing Mask, a hyperrealistic portrait of a male face breaking through a cracked surface, impressed the judges for its mix of technical skill, concept, and surreal intensity.

It’s the first time the top prize has gone to an artist from the Northern Cape. Along with the title, Malik takes home R150,000 and a solo exhibition at Rust-en-Vrede Gallery in 2027 as his prize.

The announcement was made on Friday night, 29 August, at Rust-en-Vrede Gallery in Durbanville, Cape Town.

Second prize winner Ashley Ogilvy "Wherever we are, we are here", oil on aluminium. — *Second prize winner Ashley Ogilvy “Wherever we are, we are here”, oil on aluminium.*

The Top Three Winners

🥇 1st place – Malik Mani (Mask): surreal pencil portrait about concealment and revelation.

🥈 2nd place – Ashley Ogilvy (Wherever we are, we are Here): an oil-on-aluminium portrait of District Six elder and jazz musician Joe Schaffers, holding a photograph on Constitution Street.

🥉 3rd place – Joseph Dolby (Robyn): a colourful acrylic portrait of Rupert Museum director Robyn Cedras-Tobin, framed by tulips and blossoms against a stark black background.

Third Prize goes to Joseph Dolby for "Robyn", Acrylic on Canvas. — Third Prize goes to Joseph Dolby for “Robyn”, Acrylic on Canvas.

Fourth Place Winner, Themba Mkhangeli "UKUCAMNGCA_(Meditation)" - Ballpoint Pen on Paper. — Third Prize goes to Joseph Dolby for “Robyn”, Acrylic on Canvas.

The Finalists

The Top Six also included:

Themba Mkhangeli (UKUCAMNGCA/Meditation): a ballpoint-pen self-portrait radiating calm, surrounded by bees symbolising hope.
Monique Day-Wilde (Wish you were here): an embroidered portrait resembling a stitched memory.
Ruan Huisamen (Adolescent in Blue): charcoal and pastel capturing the fragile space between childhood and adulthood.

Fifth place goes to Monique Day Wilde for "Wish you were here", hand stitching with cotton thread on cotton fabric. — Fifth place goes to Monique Day Wilde for “Wish you were here”, hand stitching with cotton thread on cotton fabric.

The Portrait Awards 2025 — Fifth place goes to Monique Day Wilde for “Wish you were here”, hand stitching with cotton thread on cotton fabric.

Why It Matters

The judges highlighted the range of mediums and approaches this year, from embroidery to hyperreal drawing, showing that South African portraiture is alive, experimental, and diverse. “Every element was deliberate and considered,” said UJ Art Gallery curator Dr Dineke Orton.

“Refreshing without being gimmicky.” – Dr Dineke Orton

Ryno Swart - Drawing Medal goes to Ruan Huisamen for "Adolecent in Blue". Charcoal and Pastel on Paper. — *Ryno Swart – Drawing Medal goes to Ruan Huisamen for “Adolecent in Blue”. Charcoal and Pastel on Paper.*

See It in Person

The Top 40 works are on view at Rust-en-Vrede Gallery and Clay Museum (Durbanville) from 30 August to 29 October 2025.

Another 60 works from the Portrait 100 exhibition will be shown at Spier Arts Trust Union House (Cape Town), also running until 29 October and part of the First Thursdays programme.