Jeanetta Blignaut
Co-Founder

Jeanetta has spent more than two decades creating platforms that bring artists and audiences into closer dialogue. From building one of the world’s largest visible collections of Southern African contemporary art for Nando’s, to directing Spier Architectural Arts and producing site-specific works around the globe, her work has consistently focused on expanding the reach and relevance of contemporary practice.

 

She is also the founder of The Creative Block, a project that has enabled hundreds of artists to sustain their practice while offering collectors an accessible entry into the art world. With an academic grounding in art history and a career at the intersection of culture and entrepreneurship, Jeanetta’s contribution to Salon is rooted in her ability to connect the pioneering work of artists with collectors eager to participate in cultural life — building pathways where commerce and creativity reinforce one another.

John Blignaut
Co-Founder

John has spent much of his career at the intersection of creative industries, product development, and business strategy — building ventures that connect bold vision with clear execution. His early background in art and design continues to inform how he approaches the creation of innovative business models that create thoughtful user experiences for both artists and collectors.

 

A defining influence for John has been Ben Okri’s novel Stargazer, which shaped his understanding of artists as pioneers who expand the horizons of our culture. This belief drives his contribution to Salon: shaping the systems, strategies, and experiences that allow artists to focus on their practice while enabling collectors to embark on meaningful collecting journeys.

John Blignaut
Co-Founder

John has spent much of his career at the intersection of creative industries, product development, and business strategy — building ventures that connect bold vision with clear execution. His early background in art and design continues to inform how he approaches the creation of innovative business models that create thoughtful user experiences for both artists and collectors.

 

A defining influence for John has been Ben Okri’s novel Stargazer, which shaped his understanding of artists as pioneers who expand the horizons of our culture. This belief drives his contribution to Salon: shaping the systems, strategies, and experiences that allow artists to focus on their practice while enabling collectors to embark on meaningful collecting journeys.