Appalling and deeply *********!

If I could give zero stars, I would. My experience with the Breytenbach Centre Gallery – specifically with its curator, Ms Anne-Ghrett Erasmus – has been nothing short of appalling and deeply *********. In over 25 years as a professional artist, I have never encountered such blatant dishonesty and disregard for basic professional standards.

I participated in an exhibition at the Breytenbach Gallery. Months after the exhibition had concluded, I requested the return of my unsold artwork in preparation for an upcoming show. The work was no longer under consignment, remained my legal property, and had not been accounted for. Despite numerous attempts to contact Ms Erasmus by phone and WhatsApp, I was entirely ignored for over a month.

Eventually, my husband visited the gallery in person to retrieve the work. It was only then that Ms Erasmus abruptly claimed the artwork had been sold—over a month earlier. No communication had been made to inform me of the sale, and her justification for this failure was a litany of implausible excuses. When I inquired about my commission, she again provided vague and contradictory explanations, and continued to evade all communication for another extended period.

In early January 2025—after repeated unanswered calls, messages, and voicemails—we finally made contact. Shockingly, she continued to obfuscate, even making false claims regarding the sale. We had by this time confirmed the identity of the buyer and verified that full payment had been made to the gallery well in advance. Only after we explicitly threatened to initiate legal proceedings, including a case of theft, did she transfer a partial payment—approximately 50% of what was owed to me. She refused to issue any supporting documentation, invoice, or sale record.

Since then, she has ignored every formal and informal attempt to resolve the matter, including a notarised Final Letter of Demand sent with the intention of pursuing a Small Claims Court summons.

It is disgraceful that an institution bearing the name of Breyten Breytenbach – a figure of significant cultural standing – would permit such conduct under its roof. Ms Erasmus’s behaviour has been deceptive, evasive, and entirely unprofessional. This is not only a violation of contractual and ethical norms, but an act that borders on outright theft.

Artists and collectors alike should exercise extreme caution in dealing with this gallery. I strongly advise against entrusting your work or your business to the Breytenbach Centre or Ms Anne-Ghrett Erasmus.