Opened on 22 January 2026, Villa Verde is a new gallery and lifestyle destination set in Johannesdal, between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, where contemporary art meets cultivated farm living. Founded by Copenhagen-born interior stylist and art curator Lonnie Castle and her partner, South African viticulturist Mathew Castle, Villa Verde brings together creative expression, design and the rhythms of the land.
The gallery presents a curated programme of mixed media, sculpture, painting, photography and culinary installations from both South Africa and Denmark. Its opening exhibition features a solo show by Danish sculptor Josefine Winding, whose work explores themes of heritage and place through her exhibition Roots.
Alongside the gallery, the Petit Pantry Farm Stall offers freshly-baked bread and pastries, farm-grown produce and coffee, complemented by a selection of Scandinavian interior pieces personally sourced by Lonnie. Together, the spaces invite visitors to slow down, engage with art and experience the beauty of farm life in the Winelands.
Villa Verde positions itself as a cultural meeting point, blending Nordic contemporary design with Cape heritage and adding a fresh creative layer to the region’s growing art and lifestyle landscape.