Zeitz MOCAA: The Grain Silo That Became Africa's Cathedral of Contemporary Art

When Zeitz MOCAA opened at the V&A Waterfront in September 2017, it announced that contemporary African art had arrived at the centre of the global conversation — and that it deserved architecture as ambitious as anything built for art anywhere in the world.

The Building

Thomas Heatherwick's transformation of a disused grain silo into a museum is one of the most remarkable architectural conversions of the 21st century. The 42 concrete tubes that once stored grain have been carved open to create cathedral-like interior spaces flooded with natural light.

The Collection

The museum's collection spans contemporary art from across the African continent and its diaspora, with a focus on work produced since 2000. Photography, video, painting, sculpture, and installation are all represented.

Beyond the Galleries

Zeitz MOCAA's position at the V&A Waterfront makes it a natural anchor for a Cape Town art day. The Norval Foundation in Tokai provides a complementary experience. Together, these institutions have transformed Cape Town into one of the most exciting art cities in the Southern Hemisphere.