Even though I only live five minutes away from Melville, my former Joburg home of 11 years, I’ve become pretty out of the loop when it comes to what’s happening there. I don’t get out much in Melville these days, especially at night, and when I do I tend to hit up the same old favorites over and over.

So I was excited to receive an invite to participate in a guided tour of the first Melville Art Mile, an initiative that will hopefully be happening on the first Thursday of every month. The purpose of the Art Mile is for Melville arts venues, and other places that feature art, to open up for the evening and encourage visitors to hop between them on foot. Participants can join the Art Mile either by signing up for a guided walking tour or walking on their own between venues — there were security guards posted throughout the route and signs with arrows directing people how to get from one stop to the next.

The “I Love Melville” sign above 7th Street, which quickly became iconic after going up a year or two ago.

The Art Mile tour was hosted by Melville resident Aubrey Moloto, who is also the person behind the weekly Snaps on 7th newsletter. Reading Snaps on 7th has become one of the highlights of my week. In an internet age that is progressively filled with AI slop and loud vertical videos, Snaps on 7th is a long-form newsletter filled with authentic writing and great stories/photography about real people, created by someone who clearly loves his community. Please subscribe, if you haven’t already, and follow Snaps on 7th on Instagram.

Aubrey Moloto standing in front of Die Pienk Kerk at the beginning of the tour.

The Melville Art Mile in Pictures

Here are a few of my own snaps from 7th Street and surrounds, taken on the Melville Art Mile.

Outside Die Pienk Kerk, which featured in my recent Quirky Joburg blog post. The Art Mile walk started at Die Pienk Kerk.

Die Pienk Kerk is seriously decked out for Christmas.

Another look at the I Love Melville sign, and another pink building: Melville Mansions, which houses several local businesses. (White might be the Pantone color of the year for 2026, but in Joburg that color is pink.)

Artist Phethego Kgomo performs live finger-painting at the Sourcery, a coffee shop and arts venue in Melville Mansions. I’ve been meaning to check out the Sourcery for a while and it’s such a cool place; I can’t wait to go back.

Hildegard, an artist and longtime Melville resident, speaks to Art Mile guests at Avalon Art, the funky studio she shares with her mother on 3rd Avenue. 

Guests browsing art at the Joburg Artist Market (formerly 27 Boxes), which seems to be experiencing a renaissance. There are a bunch of great new pop-up art galleries on the roof of the market.

Reflections on the rooftop of the Joburg Artist Market.

Artist Martin Wenkidu addresses a rapt audience at Studio 79 on 4th Avenue.

We stopped in to the Melville Mud Room, at the corner of Main Road and 6th Avenue, where a couple of my friends take pottery classes. It’s such a lovely spot; taking classes there is one of my goals for 2026.

Thanks to Aubrey and the Melville Art Mile team for introducing me to a side of Melville that I haven’t seen before (or at least not for a long time). I’m so excited for Melville’s future! Follow the Melville Art Mile on Instagram for updates about future events.