Northmead Square came alive with colour, creativity and artistic flair as 70 unique artworks were showcased from October 21 to 26, each piece telling a story of its own.

The exhibition, hosted by Artists Working Together (AWT), featured the talents of members Jean Byrd, Kantika Meiring, Jacqueline Bekker, Karen Bond, Sally Lloyd, Lorraine Kruger, Larry Mervitz, Moses Bene, Pam Selkirk, Lyndl van der Stelt and Jenny Bayley.

Held twice a year, the exhibition aims to give local artists a platform to display and sell their work while engaging directly with the community. Throughout the week, shoppers had the chance to vote for their favourite artist and stand a chance to win prizes.

The lucky draw winner, Loretta Masupha, walked away with a month’s worth of art classes at At Alive Art School and a sketching set to help her get started. Members of AWT took turns manning the display, interacting with visitors and assisting with sales.

AWT chairperson Larry Mervitz said this year’s exhibition drew a strong response from the public.

“There was a lot of interest this year. The artworks ranged from realism to abstract and many of the pieces were inspired by nature. Each artist expressed their unique techniques beautifully,” she said.

Among the exhibitors was Jean Byrd, who was seen working on a delicate oil painting of white roses intertwined with a cat motif, a touching tribute to her pet that passed away two decades ago.

Byrd showcased five pieces in total, including a striking “maths clock” artwork and a charcoal portrait of Hollywood legend Robert Redford.

The public’s favourite artist, 26-year-old Moses Bene, a self-taught visual artist from Daveyton, captivated audiences with six paintings exploring themes of spirituality, humanity and emotion. His works included depictions of God and man, a portrait of a childhood friend and an expressive piece of a man playing the trumpet.

“Instruments are gifts and talents people use to convey their emotions, thoughts and ideas,” Bene explained. He shared that he draws inspiration from spiritual narratives.

“My artworks share stories of spiritual encounters which I believe can help enlighten others’ perspectives,” he said.

His medium of choice includes acrylic paint, patterned African textiles, soft pastel, chalk, charcoal, upcycled clothing and found objects which he merges to form intricate, thought-provoking compositions.

By the end of the exhibition six artworks had been sold.

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