For just over eight years now, Aspire Art has been at the forefront of connecting collectors with exceptional artworks, providing them with a wide range of buying and selling platforms and opportunities.
Established in 2016, the South African art company— which focuses primarily on 20th-century modern and contemporary art from the continent— has risen to become an industry leader after demonstrating its superior ability to create an ideal environment for collectors to connect with the fascinating artworks they seek.
A Creative Force
At the center of Aspire Art’s rise, Chief Executive Officer Marelize van Zyl stands out as both the creative force and strategic brains behind the momentum. Having been with the company since its inception, Marelize draws deeply from her wealth of experience in the arts industry.
“Aspire Art is an auction house and consultancy specializing in 20th-century modern and contemporary art. We present live auctions coupled with an exhibition program. At the core, we also offer art valuations and advisory services,” Marelize says.
“We help clients—whether private, corporate, or public—navigate the art market and build meaningful collections. Recently, we’ve expanded into the world of classic and collectable cars with Aspire Collectable Cars, responding to a growing demand for alternative passion investment options, like rare, high-quality vehicles.
“The Aspire team is led by a dynamic group of specialists with extensive knowledge, industry experience, and great enthusiasm for African art. We pool our expertise to provide clients with thorough art market insights, fair advice, and trend forecasting, to ensure a richly comprehensive and rewarding art-collecting experience.”
A Passion for Art
While growing up, Marelize’s passion for art dominated her childhood, and it came as no surprise when she decided to take a tertiary education path that would cultivate her creative sparks.
“I have a Master’s degree in Visual Studies from Stellenbosch University, and I also hold a BA Honours degree in Art History (cum laude) and Visual Culture Studies from Stellenbosch University and the University of Pretoria.
“Over my more than 18 years in the art world, I’ve had the opportunity to work in both local and international markets, and I’m proud to lead Aspire Art as we focus on expanding our presence in Modern and Contemporary art from Southern Africa, as well as exploring new collecting categories like collectable cars.”
Dynamic Art Market
Constant changes in the South African art market always challenge Marelize and her team at Aspire Art to be innovative and think outside the box to stay ahead of their competitors.
This requires a lot of creativity and strategizing. Through it all, Marelize has discovered the importance of always putting the needs of their clients first.
“I’ve been deeply involved in driving Aspire Art’s growth since the company’s inception in 2016. The art market is incredibly dynamic, and I’ve always been passionate about enhancing the visibility and value (whether cultural or as an investment) of South African art.
“The driving force behind my work has always been to create a space where collectors can engage with art meaningfully, helping them navigate the market with insights and expertise, which is something I deeply value in my role at Aspire Art.”
Leading from the Front
As the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Marelize is always focused on executing a roadmap geared towards increasing Aspire Art’s growth trajectory through awareness and searching for new markets.
“I oversee our strategic growth, working to expand Aspire Art’s brand presence both locally and internationally. I also ensure that we offer world-class auctions and art advisory services to our clients, whether they are private collectors, estates, or institutions. It’s a great mix of strategy, leadership, industry expertise, and a dash of creativity.”
She admits that growing a business and expanding into new areas like collectable cars has presented its fair share of challenges.
“The key has been staying patient and focused on building lasting relationships with collectors and industry experts. We have also placed a strong emphasis on expanding our expertise, which helps us provide better guidance to our clients in both the art and car markets.”
Achievements and Goals
It is largely because of such determination that the successes have far outweighed the challenges they have encountered along the way.
“One of our standout achievements at Aspire Art has been the growth and recognition of the business in the local and international art scene. Under my leadership, we’ve made significant strides in expanding our auction offerings and creating impactful exhibitions.
“A notable milestone was the successful launch of Aspire Collectable Cars in 2024. We had our inaugural auction for rare and iconic vehicles, which was a big success.”
“We are always looking for talented individuals who share our passion for art, culture, and passion investments. While I don’t have any immediate hiring plans, we’re constantly evaluating how we can expand and grow our team as the business evolves.”
Over the next five years, Marelize says the focus of the company will be on continuing to grow its presence and share in both the South African market and internationally.
“We aim to further strengthen our position in handling modern and contemporary art, and we’ll continue exploring new areas, like our recent venture into collectable cars. Our goal is to offer collectors a wide range of opportunities to invest in and appreciate art and rare vehicles,” Marelize concludes.