I was born in sunny South Africa and moved to London in 2009 after graduating with a BA (honors) in Fine art from the University of Pretoria. Specialising in oil painting I create art that revolves around the main subject matter and passion of my work: the body mind. Influenced by Surrealism and psychoanalysis my work combines my love of automatism (a surrealist technique of free-association or creating without thought or plan) with spirituality and the subjective experience of being.
“I have a great curiosity about many things, which feed into my work, including animal instincts, desire, the subconscious, dreams, the Self, mysticism, meditation, psychology and neuroscience. I’m fascinated by the concept of identity and how, personally, it always appears to be in a state of flux. I love how malleable the mind is, how we can change and transform ourselves.”
My most recent series, Animal in Me, is all about this transformation, about one thing becoming another and then changing again just when you thought you “got” it. My new series is an exploration into animal nature, desires and our connection to the creatures around us. Using the inkblot as a starting point, I bring out what I see with layers of acrylic paint first and then oil paint, resulting in surreal animal-hybrids and eyes that stare out to confront the viewer.
“Everybody sees something different in the inkblots and resulting artworks, which delights and surprises me. I love the fact that I can invite the viewer into my subconscious mind and get a glimpse of theirs in the process. Sometimes it can be quite moving or even funny. It’s incredible to connect with viewers on this visual level and I have not experienced this with my work in such tactile way before.”
List of Past Exhibitions
2009- Untitled, Magpie Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
2010- Untitled, Artloco Gallery, Ticehurst, East Sussex
2010-Showcase, Café 1001, Brick Lane, Aldgate east, London
2013-Pink, Cultivate gallery, Bethnal Green, London
2013- Erotic art, Artstyle Gallery, Orpington, London
2014- Cultivate Evolved, Cultivate Gallery, Vyner Street, London
2014- The Affordable Art exhibition Vol X, Vibe Gallery, Bermondsey, London
2014- Art Car Boot Fair, Brick Lane, Aldgate East, London
2014- Open Studios, Second Floor studios and Arts, Woolwich, London
2014- Acme Artists, High House Production Park, Purfleet, Essex
2015- The Tunnel: Nostalghia, Art Hub Gallery, Deptford Bridge, London
2015- The Tunnel: The Outsider, 5th base gallery, Aldgate East, London
2015- Sweet ‘Art: Punch, Espacio Gallery, Bethnal Green, London
2015- The Tunnel: The Metamorphosis, Bow Arts Project Space, Bow, London
2015- Sweet ‘Art: Don’t Look Now, I’klectic Art Lab, Archbishop’s park, London
2015- Metal: Village Beach Festival, Grays Beach Riverside Park, Thurrock
2015- Thames Delta Paint Off, Thames Theatre, Grays, Thurrock
2015- The Tunnel: Bang!, Hundred Years Gallery, Hoxton, London
2015- High House Production Park Christmas Fayre, Purfleet, Thurrock
2016- Elles in Rogue: XX Protagonists, Artworks Elephant, Elephant and Castle, London
2016- The Tunnel: Interzone, Geddes Gallery, Kings Cross, London
2016- Art on a Boat, Peagreen, The Floating showroom, Regents Canal, London
2016- The Tunnel: Hunger, Republic Gallery, Tower Hamlets, London
2016- Thurrock Art Trail, The Bell, Stanford-le-Hope, Essex .
2016- Tribe16, The Ugly Duck, London.
2016- Kiber Eden (Cyber Paradise), MMG Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
2016- Kiber Eden (Cyber Paradise), MamU Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
2017- The Tunnel, Waterstones, Bloomsbury, London
2017- The Tunnel: Mercerism, The Crypt Gallery, Euston Road, London
2017- ArtCan: Appearance Of, A&D Gallery, Marylebone, London
2017- The Tunnel: Greetings From A Dead Man, Safe House Gallery, Peckham Rye, London
2017- Angel Christmas Fair, Candid Galleries, Torrens Street, London
2017- Thurrock Art Trail, The White Hart, Grays, Thurrock
2017- Labirintus, International Art Camp, Block Art, Mamü Galley, Budapest, Hungary
2017- Labirintus, International Art Camp, Block Art, MMG Gallery, Budapest, Hungary
2018- ArtCan : 44 Art Works, Hallam Conference Centre, Marylebone, London
2018- The Tunnel: Labyrinths, Hundred Years Gallery