Over the years, South Africa has produced a number of celebrated female artists who have become popular the world over. Pioneering art works by Bertha Everard, Maggie Laubser and, most prominently, Irma Stern, regularly fetch record prices at international and local auction houses.
The Introduction of Modern Art
These early South African artists effectively blazed the trail of modern art in a country largely preoccupied with the naturalistic and descriptive images of the artists of the day.
Instead of simply recording the natural surroundings and the people in it; these ground breaking artists are credited with introducing impressionism, post-impressionism and expressionism to the country for the first time.
Bertha Everard (1873 - 1965)
Born in Holland and trained in London, Bertha Everard produced powerful landscapes which captured the solitude and mysticism of the vast African plains. Her strong use of line and colour created a stylised intensity in her work which evolved from realism to vibrant expressionism.
Maggie Laubser (1886 - 1973)
South African-born Maggie Laubser created paintings in an intentional primitive style, portraying the intensity of the people and landscapes of the Western Cape. Together with Irma Stern, Laubser was instrumental in introducing the techniques and boisterous colour of post-impressionism and expressionism to the country.
Irma Stern (1894 - 1966)
Stern is a major South African artist who gained national and international recognition within her lifetime. Her association with the German Expressionist painters of the early 1900’s influenced her work tremendously and today she is regarded as one of the most important colourists of her time.
Celebrated Contemporary South African Female Artists
A new generation of female artists in South Africa are continuing the fine tradition established by these early practitioners. Artists such as Yoka Wright, Katherine Wood, Katherine Ambrose and Candice Dawn B are creating a vast body of contemporary art in all the significant genres.
Yoka Wright
South African artist, Yoka Wright, is one of the most celebrated abstract artists in the country. Defined by crisp lines and flamboyant colours, Yoka Wright originals are highly collectible and feature in private and corporate collections all over the globe.
Katherine Wood
Artist extraordinaire, Katherine Wood is renowned for her abstract landscapes presented in a find blend of mixed media. Her poignant art works are regularly exhibited at art galleries all over the world and in 2008 she was selected to represent South African artistic talent at the Beijing Olympics!
Katharine Ambrose
An avid exponent of the vibrant and colourful Township Art genre, Katharine Ambrose captures the exciting imagery of South Africa’s bustling townships in a naive and primitive style. Working in oil, acrylic and mixed media, her works are enormously popular and can be found in collections all over the country.
Candice Dawn B
Passionate, flamboyant, sensual and liberating describe the opulent abstract art works by South African expressionist, Candice Dawn B. A finalist at the ABSA Le Atelier art competition in 2010, Candice is one of the most exciting and unique female artists to emerge in South Africa in quite some time!
Where to Buy Art Works by Popular Female South African Artists Online
You can browse and buy original art works by South Africa’s celebrated contemporary female artists online at Fine Art Portfolio.
Representing a collection of art galleries in South Africa, the Fine Art Portfolio showcases artworks by emerging and established South African artists, covering all popular styles and genres. Browse the site and invest in South Africa’s wealth of artistic talent!