After 55 years of extraordinary service, dedication and care, the KZNSA bids a heartfelt farewell to Gloria Hoff as she retires from her role at the KZNSA Shop at the end of January 2026.

Gloria’s contribution to the KZNSA is immeasurable. From joining Council in the 1970s to founding the KZNSA Shop in 1989, she has been a driving force behind the KZNSA’s sustainability and spirit. Her vision, entrepreneurial acumen and belief in handcrafted work transformed the shop into a vital income stream and a much-loved destination with an international reputation.

Beyond her achievements, Gloria is known and cherished for her generosity, kindness and unwavering commitment to people – nurturing artists, mentoring colleagues and building lasting relationships with our suppliers and customers alike. Even after lockdown, she returned to help rebuild the shop, generously giving her time and expertise to ensure its future.

Gloria has witnessed and shaped multiple eras of the KZNSA, leaving an indelible mark on the institution we know and are today. We thank her, and the Hoff family, for their decades of service, passion and care.

Gloria, your legacy lives on in every corner of the KZNSA Shop and in the many lives you have touched. We wish you a joyful and richly deserved retirement.

We have a dedicated tribute book available to write in at the gallery desk – please add memories and experiences you’ve shared, plus any images, or words of thanks and good wishes for our precious Gloria. For those that can’t contribute in person – please do so via the Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVFEEbquoiPq-AQ1bFOxi7teuTZZGEzjDtssNUn6R7kcOIHg/viewform?usp=header 

Gloria’s last day at the KZNSA is Sunday 1 February and a public event to honour her will be held on the 15th April, details to be confirmed closer to the time.