About ARTi Gallery

Where Passion Meets Precision and Creativity Knows No Bounds

About Us – ARTi Gallery

ARTi Gallery started from a simple idea: art should be lived with, not just looked at.

Owned and curated by artist Robert Thirtle, ARTi is a working gallery and creative space where art, interiors, and people come together naturally. You’ll find original artworks, limited-edition prints, and carefully selected interior pieces that are meant to be enjoyed in real homes, not just perfect showrooms.

We believe there’s an art to curating a space. The artwork on your walls should speak the same language as the furniture, textures, and objects around it. That’s why our gallery and shop work side by side, allowing you to explore, mix, and imagine without rules.

ARTi proudly supports South African artists and artisans, while also welcoming selected international work. We host exhibitions, workshops, and one of the country’s largest art competitions, the ARTi Gallery Art Competition (AGAC), which connects emerging and established artists with collectors across South Africa and beyond.

Behind the scenes, ARTi is run by a small, hands-on team. Robert Thirtle leads as owner, curator, and artist, with Michelle Thöle overseeing marketing and coordinating AGAC. We are personally involved in every exhibition, every artwork, and every conversation.

Whether you’re buying your first artwork, adding to a growing collection, or simply curious, ARTi Gallery is a space where art feels approachable, personal, and alive.

The Artist Behind It All

Robert Thirtle

ARTi Gallery is the vision of Artist and Gallery Founder Robert Thirtle. Robert’s lifelong passion for painting was sparked in 1987 at the tender age of 8 years young. In Grade 2, he and his sister took his work to the streets of Bethlehem. They sat on the sidewalk selling his paintings for 20c each, enough to buy a bread.

Fast forward to 2004, and his love for the transformative power of art, luxury, and aesthetics took Robert to the Sheffield School of Interior Design in New York.

His mission was to seamlessly blend art and interior design to create beautiful, functional, and inspired spaces. Over the next 16 years, Robert worked for an international architect firm and launched Bob’s Interiors. Realising that his clients wanted both design services and luxurious furniture and home décor, Bob’s Interiors evolved into Free State Interiors and Bedroom Boutique.

In 2022, Robert blended these endeavours into one cohesive concept—ARTi Gallery. This fusion of artistic expression is a harmonious masterpiece of the mediums that make his heart sing—art, interior design, décor, and high-end furniture. His art gallery and community initiatives serve as a haven for art collectors, South African artists, and international artists.

Robert’s passion for painting remains, but he continues to explore and expand his skill set and creativity by working in Oil, Acrylic, Soft Pastels, Charcoal, Multimedia, Graphic Design, Lino Prints, and Canvas Prints.

The Dream Team Who Brings ARTi To Life!

  • Robert Thirtle

    Owner, Interior Designer, Curator, and Artist

  • Michelle Thöle

    Competition and Media Marketing Coordinator



  • Alletta

    Gallery Assistant



    Joseph

    Garden Engineer