Founded in 1985 on Ardmore Farm in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains, the studio began when Halsted apprenticed Bonnie Ntshalintshali. In partnership they nurtured local artists, giving rise to a distinctive and thriving artist community. Situated in an area profoundly impacted by HIV and AIDS, Halsted witnessed the disease’s devastating effects firsthand—losing her partner, artist Bonnie Ntshalintshali, in 1999. In response, Ardmore established a fund to provide medical care, education, nutrition, and support for AIDS orphans and affected artists. Guided by the African philosophy of ubuntu, the belief that identity is shaped through community, Halsted continues to celebrate each artist’s individuality and life story as vital to the collective spirit of Ardmore and the stunning works they create.

Ardmore Ceramics is regarded as a South African national treasure and its wares have been presented as gifts to international heads of state. Queen Elizabeth II was presented with an Ardmore bowl by the President of South Africa and there is an Ardmore masterpiece in the White House. Their vessels and sculptures were featured at both the Korean and Istanbul Biennales and are included in the Museum of Arts and Design’s permanent collection in New York and in the Museum of Cultures in Basel, Switzerland. The largest American collection can be seen at the Wiener Museum of Decorative Arts in South Florida. Ardmore ceramics have been featured at sales at Sotheby’s and Christie’s auction houses. This year Ardmore is celebrating its 40th Anniversary with the Cape Town exhibition, Taking Flight.

The work from these two internationally acclaimed artists will be on view at the gallery’s 243 N. 5th Street, Columbus, OH, location from March 5 through April 30, 2026, with an opening reception on Thursday, March 5, from 5–7 PM.

“When I first met Stephen, in the last century, I was immediately drawn to the spirituality, light, and shadow in his work. The way he coaxed paint and watercolor into dazzling interactions of thought and action. Over the years we had many conversations about Art and they were always insightful and I learned so much from him. I was making paintings at that time, but as my use of materials expanded, our conversations continued, with the realization that Art was about thought and feeling, the materials were secondary. I remember so fondly a show we did with Rebecca many years ago here in Columbus, so it is particularly poignant for me to have the opportunity to show our works together again, in Duet.”

—Rob Wynne, October 2025