One of South Africa's leading fine art auction houses, Strauss & Co is also a vital advocate for creating a culture of arts education through its highly informative pre-auction exhibitions, where rare works from private collections that are going under the hammer go on display. Until recently the auction house hosted its temporary exhibitions in the weekend before major auctions, although as of June 2019 the auction house now has its own permanent gallery meaning important works can go on display to the public for much longer.

Whether you are looking to invest in a new artwork or are simply a devoted art admirer, a visit to this expansive gallery is always an enlightening and uplifting experience. While Strauss's art sales do not consist exclusively of South African art, works by famous and lesser-known South African artists tend to make up the bulk of a typical sale. From renowned older masters from the early and mid-20th Century such as JH Pierneef, Alexis Preller, Gerard Sekoto and Irma Stern to exciting contemporary names like William Kentridge, Nelson Makamo and Zanele Muholi, Strauss & Co's pre-auction exhibitions present an unmissable opportunity to learn more about South African art history.

The auction house's team of art historians and curators put considerable effort into presenting works by complimentary artists in thematic ways - so you might find a collection of artists grouped together who produced abstract art in different eras, or get to see a history of portraiture through the decades. Particular attention is also paid to highlighting the work of talented artists who were vastly underappreciated during their time and who only now are gaining renewed recognition.

Exhibitions are updated on a regular basis reflecting the collection of works on sale in upcoming auctions, which include both live auctions and online auctions and ahead of live auctions you can also buy a copy of one of the glossy and highly informative auction catalogues.