Walter Battiss was a master of oil painting and is still considered to be the best watercolour artist South Africa has ever had. He pioneered silkscreen printing in the country, was the best abstract artist of his day and drew with a mastery few can copy.

The Walter Battiss Art Museum in Somerset East displays examples of all his techniques. The museum houses the largest permanent collection of Battiss’ work, as well as family items, books, letters, and some of Professor Battiss’ clothing and personal items.

The Museum is open from 8am to 4pm on weekdays and 10am to 2pm on Saturdays.
Staff can arrange appointments for other times, Public Holidays, and weekends.

The history of the museum building:

The two-storied house on Paulet Street was constructed as an English officers’ mess in the early days of Somerset. During the19th Century it transitioned through private ownership, gaining its signature cast-iron fence and long shaded Victorian veranda. The Battiss family hired it to operate the Battiss Private Hotel from 1914 to 1917, when the postwar recession forced them to close and move to Koffiefontein.

Walter Battiss officially opened the museum on 24 October 1981, donating a large collection of his works before his death in 1982.

Authorities identified serious deterioration in 1999, prompting a restoration of the Museum, which reopened in 2004.