Peri-peri patron: how Nando’s amassed a huge collection of South African art

Nando’s has been buying South African art to display in its peri-peri chicken restaurants globally since 2004, amassing a collection of about 32,000 pieces from 700 artists and becoming one of the country’s most significant supporters of visual artists. Nando’s did not respond to questions, including whether the family of Enthoven, who died in 2022, still owns the private chain. Over seven years, 70 designers had sold 65,000 pieces worth 200m rand (£8m) to Nando’s restaurants, said Tracy Lynch, executive creator director of Clout/SA, the business that manages the programme for Nando’s. Tamlin Blake, the Spier Art Trust’s chief curator and a tapestry artist, said that in order to be considered for purchase, artworks had to be family-friendly, about 1 metre by 1.5 metres, and not behind glass. View image in fullscreen Clive Van den Berg’s What Happens in the Sky on display at the Banbury Nando’s, far left.