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Marsi van de Heuvel (b. 1987) grew up in her mother’s art classroom, with unlimited access to materials and surrounded by books on old masters. She has spent countless hours observing, exploring and practicing. After trying her hand in film photography and finding the practice too creatively restrictive; her innate inquisitiveness led her to study further. She moved on to study Fine Art at Ruth Prowse and was drawn to the constantly expanding boundaries of art, and it’s invitation to examine life. She graduated in 2010, majoring in painting. Despite most of her current work being executed with fineliner pens, van de Heuvel still sees herself as a painter. She approaches the colour and layers in her works as if she was working with oil paint; this gives the ‘drawings’ a radiant quality. Van de Heuvel has had 3 solo exhibitions with SMITH, namely 2015’s 'Entanglement', 2016’s 'Ceremony' and 2018’s 'Transition'.
Regarding the subject of 'Ceremony', van de Heuvel explains, “our world is full of challenge, chaos and pain; the only thing that makes sense to me in this sometimes trying existence is compassion - those quiet vibrant moments of connection. Flowers are consolations, they celebrate the ceremonies of life and offer comfort when confronting death. To be compassionate is to be like a flower - open, vulnerable and radiant.”
On 'Transition' van de Heuvel says, “This year I have started working on an ambitious project to create a collection of artwork depicting immersive life- affirming natural environments that evoke a sense of well-being. I have hiked through several of our nature reserves collecting references. Spending countless quiet hours in our forests, velds and mountains and have found that studying the light, textures and harmony of colours has been deeply therapeutic for me. My intention is to attempt to share my experience by giving time and energy to convey the healing essence of nature though making new artworks for this specific purpose.”
Solo Exhibitions
2018 Transition, SMITH, Cape Town
2016 Ceremony, SMITH, Cape Town
2015 Entanglement, SMITH, Cape Town
2015 Dark Matter II, Rochester Museum of Fine Art, New York
2014 Dark Matter, Tonic, Johannesburg
2013 In Loving Memory, Wolves, Johannesburg
2012 Above and Below, 177 Long St, Cape Town
Group Exhibitions
2018 Close Encounters, SMITH, Cape Town
2017 Salad, SMITH, Cape Town
2017 Calibrating Wonder, SMITH, Cape Town
2017 Out of Nowhere, SMITH, Cape Town
2016 From Whence They Came, SMITH / Kalashnikovv, Cape Town
2015 Lineage, Ongaro, Cape Town
2015 Current, SMITH Gallery, Cape Town
2011 Winter Wonderland, Salon 91, Cape Town
2011 If You Let Yourself Love A Wild Thing, Salon 91, Cape Town
Art Fairs
2018 FNB Joburg Art Fair, SMITH
2018 Investec Cape Town Art Fair, SMITH
2017 FNB Joburg Art Fair, SMITH
2017Cape Town Art Fair, SMITH
2016 AKAA Contemporary Design and Art Fair, Paris
2016 Cape Town Art Fair, SMITH
2016 FNB Joburg Art Fair, SMITH