Irma Stern Museum

The Irma Stern Museum was a South African museum dedicated to the life and work of Irma Stern and the artists associated with her.

History

The Irma Stern Museum was founded in July 1972 and housed in Irma's home known as "The Firs" in Rosebank, Cape Town. In her will, Irma Stern bequeathed her collections to a trust fund for the advancement and promotion of the Fine Arts. This was the basis for the museum's creation, so that these collections contribute to the advancement of the arts. Some rooms in the museum remained largely as Irma would have wanted them, including her studio where her brushes, easel, rags and painting coat are kept, just as she left them.
Other rooms hosted temporary exhibitions, such as those for Jo Ractliffe, Esther Mahlangu and Georgina Gratrix in 2021, drawing on the Irma Stern Museum's funds to highlight and interact with art and culture.
The museum closed on 31 October 2025.

Owners

The Irma Stern Museum, established under Irma Stern's will, has a collection owned by the Irma Stern Trust, while the museum is administered by the University of Cape Town on behalf of the Trustees of the Irma Stern Trust.

Garden

Nicknamed "The Secret Garden," The Garden is an oasis on the University of Cape Town campus. Students, staff, and visitors are invited to hold meetings amidst the lush plants and flowers. The garden features Magnolia grandiflora at the northern end of the garden, and Norfolk Island pine at the southern end, surrounded by Phoenix Reclinata.

The Museum

Little known during her lifetime, she left a rich heritage of art preserved in her home in Cape Town, which contains her own collection and objects acquired during her travels in Europe and Africa. The museum regularly hosted exhibitions of contemporary South African artists.