Artists and Former Staffers Claim Cape Town Gallery SMAC Withholds Payment and Artworks

On July 2, South African artist Kate Gottgens accused Cape Town gallery SMAC of failing to pay her for sold artworks or return pieces still in its possession. In an Instagram post, she highlighted her painting Audible Doom (2011), which was displayed at the Miart fair in 2022 but allegedly not sold. Despite numerous requests over four years, the gallery has yet to return the painting.

Gottgens, who left SMAC eight months ago after a long tenure, expressed her frustration over the gallery's unfulfilled promises. She stated, "I resorted to Instagram because after months of emails and WhatsApps I wasn’t getting anything transparent or honest from them." Her grievances were first reported by South African publication 2OceansVibe, followed by News24.

SMAC's Response to Allegations

After Gottgens' Instagram post, SMAC contacted her and paid her outstanding amount of 297,500 rand (approximately $18,225). However, she still has not received Audible Doom. The gallery issued a statement to ARTnews, asserting its long-standing commitment to artists and disputing the allegations. The statement read, "SMAC has been in business for a number of decades and has a proud record of achievements for its artists and for acting in good faith."

SMAC attributed the ongoing issues to shipping delays, claiming they are "beyond our control." The gallery's correspondence with Gottgens, which spans back to June 2025, suggests that the artworks are currently in Belgium. Gottgens, however, threatened to launch a social media campaign to expose what she termed the gallery's "attempted fraud" and "unethical practices."

Impact on Other Artists and Staff

Other artists and former staffers have reported similar experiences with SMAC, indicating a troubling trend. Cape Town artist Jody Paulsen noted that after a solo presentation at the Miart fair in Milan in 2023, he faced challenges in retrieving his works and receiving payment. He stated, "They kept telling me the works were on the way back, but it took months to get money from the gallery."

Many artists have left SMAC due to frustrations comparable to those expressed by Gottgens. The gallery's website currently lists only 14 artists, down from as many as 28 artists in previous years. This decline reflects the growing dissatisfaction among artists who feel unsupported by the gallery.

Gallery's Historical Context and Future Outlook

Founded in 2007 in Stellenbosch, SMAC expanded to Cape Town in 2011 and operated a venue in Johannesburg until 2023. The gallery has participated in prestigious fairs such as Art Basel and The Armory Show. Despite its achievements, the current controversies raise questions about its future relationships with artists and potential clients.

In light of recent events, the gallery expressed optimism that all outstanding issues would be resolved. As the situation unfolds, artists and observers alike will be watching closely to see how SMAC addresses these serious allegations.