At Spier, art is not an afterthought. It’s part of who we are. As you wander through our farm, you’ll discover pieces that tell stories about this land and the people connected to it. Art here echoes the environment, the past, and the present, weaving together narratives of the place we call home.
One of the newest additions to this living gallery now welcomes guests at the Garden Room, a striking mosaic installation by artist John Murray created in collaboration with Hub Mosaic Studio, based at Spier Arts Trust. Watch the behind-the-scenes video showing the making and installation of this work.
The Garden Room mosaic wall
Framing the outdoor entrance to the Garden Room, the mosaic draws inspiration from John Murray’s sketchbook studies of Cape flora and fauna found on our farm. His delicate observations of plants, birds, and small creatures have been translated into thousands of hand-placed mosaic pieces, forming a work that feels both intricate and alive.
The result offers visitors a quiet moment to pause and notice nature’s smaller forms, while also reflecting Spier’s ongoing connection to the land. It is both an artwork and an invitation: to slow down, look closer, and reconnect with the environment around us.
Art encounters across the farm
The mosaic joins a growing collection of artworks guests encounter across Spier. Here are a few other works to look out for during your visit to Spier Hotel:
Klipspringers by Dido Crosby
Greeting guests at the hotel entrance, these cast bronze klipspringers stand poised atop natural boulders. Named for their ability to leap effortlessly across rocky terrain, these small antelope are perfectly adapted to their environment. Crosby’s sculptures capture both their delicacy and resilience, quietly celebrating local wildlife.
Flood: Breede River Valley by Hanien Conradie
Displayed in reception, this expansive work uses river clay ochre, ash and charcoal made from burned plant material. It explores both the destructive and renewing forces of water, while questioning human interventions that intensify flooding. Clay, ash and chalk reference the cycles of earth, fire and ocean, grounding the artwork in the natural elements it reflects upon.
After the Fire by Tamlin Blake
Created from shards salvaged after a devastating house fire, Blake’s works reimagine broken fine china and personal objects into new forms. These pieces speak to loss, memory and the impermanence of cherished things. Elements from this series can be found in the Bar installation and the History Suite.
A living gallery
Art at Spier continues to grow and evolve, shaped by African artists whose work reflects our landscapes, histories and shared experiences. Whether encountered unexpectedly along a path or experienced in places where guests gather, each work adds another layer to the story of this place.
Next time you visit the Garden Room, pause for a moment at its entrance. The mosaic wall rewards slow looking – and, like much of the art here, offers a gentle reminder to notice the beauty in small, often overlooked details.
