Vision & Mission
Our vision is to make original South African art accessible to art lovers everywhere while supporting talented local artists and strengthening the creative community of the Garden Route.
About Us
Welcome to Knysna Online Art — a new online gallery created to celebrate the creativity, culture, and artistic heritage of Knysna and South Africa.
Based in the heart of Knysna, we collaborate with independent artists, local galleries, and creative spaces to showcase authentic original artworks inspired by the beauty, diversity, and spirit of South Africa. Our collection includes works from Knysna artists as well as selected artists from across South Africa, offering collectors a unique opportunity to discover meaningful and original pieces.
Knysna Online Art was built from a long-standing passion to promote art, culture, and heritage. What began as a personal goal has grown into a platform that connects artists with a wider audience and helps preserve the stories, traditions, and creative expression that make South African art so distinctive.
We believe art should be available to everyone — whether you are an experienced collector, a first-time buyer, a visitor to the Garden Route, or someone simply looking for a piece that brings inspiration and beauty into your home.
Our mission is to:
Support and promote local South African artists
Encourage appreciation for art, culture, and heritage
Create opportunities for collaboration between galleries and artists
Make original artworks accessible through a trusted online platform
Share the creative spirit of Knysna with the world.
Every artwork featured on our store is selected with care and reflects the originality, passion, and craftsmanship of the artists we represent.
Thank you for supporting local art and becoming part of our growing creative community.
Discover the Art of Knysna and South Africa
Explore our collection of original paintings, mixed media works, drawings, and creative expressions from artists inspired by the landscapes, people, wildlife, and culture of South Africa.
Knysna Online Art — celebrating creativity, culture, and heritage through original South African art.
Proudly Bespoke Art
For gallery principal, Sanet Koster, the driving force behind the gallery, Proudly Bespoke Art is not just a gallery. It is a home for creativity.
It has a kind heart, big attitude and all the happy colors of the rainbow.
Another principal, Tersia Cooper, believes Proudly Bespoke Art in Knysna carries a beautiful, positive energy — a space that brings artists together and where sharing truly is caring.
It is a collaborative space where three of the principals display their work and invite guest artists to join.
This adds to the diversity and inclusivity of art – one can find a bold statement piece or a subtle treasure.
The space invites you to explore, connect and find art that feels uniquely you.
Old Goal
Built in 1859, the Old Gaol in Knysna is the town's oldest government building, originally serving as a prison for convicts constructing the Prince Alfred Pass. Located on Main Road, this former prison was a center of colonial life—used for official announcements and as a water hub—before being retired in the 1980s, declared a national monument, and converted into a maritime museum and art Gallery.
The Gaol was built by prisoners who arrived from the Eastern Cape in 1858, with the foundation stone laid on 19 February 1859 during a ceremony that included local officials and Freemasons. It was designated a National Monument in 1992.