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Hazendal Wine Estate Unveils Limited Edition Artist Label with Work by Athi-Patra Ruga

Gen de Art
17 hours ago
2 min read

South Africa’s historic Hazendal Wine Estate has launched the first edition of its Artist Label series with a striking collaboration featuring acclaimed artist Athi-Patra Ruga. Known for his mythological storytelling and provocative exploration of identity and post-colonial narratives, Ruga was commissioned to design the label for the 2017 Prestige Brut Cap Classique—a sparkling wine crafted in the traditional champagne method.

Limited Edition Artist Series Bottle – Hazendal Prestige Brut Cap Classique (2017).

Label artwork by Athi-Patra Ruga. Courtesy of the artist and Hazendal Wine Estate.

Curated by Khanyisile Mbongwa, the debut label titled Indlamu (2024) reflects themes from the 2024 Hazendal Festival, which centered on the life-giving force of soil. Ruga’s artwork presents a fantastical avatar in mid-transformation, drawing from traditional Zulu dance, the glamour of Art Deco burlesque, and the contemporary boldness of Voguing.

With only 1,500 bottles produced, this limited edition is more than just a collectible—it is a vessel of cross-generational wisdom, encapsulating Hazendal’s mission to foster cultural dialogue through art, winemaking, and hospitality. A portion of proceeds will support the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa.

As part of the celebration, Hazendal will host an exclusive launch event in May 2025 in collaboration with the Chila Nathi Collective. The original artwork will also be added to Hazendal’s permanent art collection.

This marks a new chapter for Hazendal, which also welcomed Kiara Scott Farmer as head winemaker in 2024—making history as the first woman of color to win South Africa’s prestigious Winemaker of the Year Award. Her debut rosé will be released in May 2025.

About the Artist: Athi-Patra Ruga

Athi-Patra Ruga (b. 1984) is a renowned South African artist whose work blends myth, performance, and bold visual narratives to explore identity, gender, and post-colonial history. Through fictional avatars, Ruga critiques social norms while celebrating African heritage and queer expression.

His art has been exhibited internationally, including at Somerset House in London and the Norval Foundation in Cape Town, earning him a leading voice in contemporary African art.