Nicky Marais

Single Quarters, Nicky Marais, Coloured pencil on black paper

2022

Realmar Gebou, 2022. Coloured pencil on black paper. 55.5 x 66cm As an extension of her ‘Opening Up’ series, Nicky Marais has focused on seemingly inn...

Ondobe, 2022. Coloured pencil on black paper. 55.5 x 66cm As an extension of her ‘Opening Up’ series, Nicky Marais has focused on seemingly innocuous ...

I See Future 2, 2020. Smoke, coffee, ballpoint pen and pastel on ivory Rosaspina fabriano paper In the 'I see...' series, Actofel Ilovu’s latest body of prints, the artist draws on ...

Opening Houses on Black 3, 2022. Coloured pencil on black paper, 20 x 20cm Nicky Marais (b. 1962) is a Namibian artist, educator and activist. Marais is well-known for her abstract artworks created using a personal vocabulary of abstract forms and colour relationships derived from everyday life as well as the socio-political history of Namibia and icons from around the continent. These forms are often layered using a mixture of stencils and traditional painting techniques. Marais describes her practice as a “constant hunt for significant shapes”, which are subjected to a process of near-obsessive repetition, appearing multiple times in different combinations. Much of her work explores the relationship between physical and spiritual worlds, which extends into an investigation of the relationship between the tangible and the intangible, the signifier and the signified. Speaking about Marais’ work, Rosa Namises said “Sometimes we are trapped between the gates and the snakes. We have to choose to go through the path of knowledge, to learn what the snakes have to teach us, and not allow ourselves to be trapped by the gates” (2017). Marais is recently retired from an eleven year posting as the Head of Department of Visual Arts at the College of the Arts in Windhoek. As an artist, she has exhibited extensively in Namibia and abroad. In 2017, The National Art Gallery of Namibia hosted a solo exhibition by Marais, titled ‘Presence in Absence’. Her next solo ‘Connections‘ was held at Guns & Rain Gallery in Johannesburg in 2020. Most recently in 2022, the artist participated in the Baker’s Bay...

Opening Houses on Black 7, 2022. Coloured pencil on black paper, 20 x 20cm Nicky Marais (b. 1962) is a Namibian artist, educator and activist. Marais is well-known for her abstract artworks created using a personal vocabulary of abstract forms and colour relationships derived from everyday life as well as the socio-political history of Namibia and icons from around the continent. These forms are often layered using a mixture of stencils and traditional painting techniques. Marais describes her practice as a “constant hunt for significant shapes”, which are subjected to a process of near-obsessive repetition, appearing multiple times in different combinations. Much of her work explores the relationship between physical and spiritual worlds, which extends into an investigation of the relationship between the tangible and the intangible, the signifier and the signified. Speaking about Marais’ work, Rosa Namises said “Sometimes we are trapped between the gates and the snakes. We have to choose to go through the path of knowledge, to learn what the snakes have to teach us, and not allow ourselves to be trapped by the gates” (2017). Marais is recently retired from an eleven year posting as the Head of Department of Visual Arts at the College of the Arts in Windhoek. As an artist, she has exhibited extensively in Namibia and abroad. In 2017, The National Art Gallery of Namibia hosted a solo exhibition by Marais, titled ‘Presence in Absence’. Her next solo ‘Connections‘ was held at Guns & Rain Gallery in Johannesburg in 2020. Most recently in 2022, the artist participated in the Baker’s Bay...

Opening Houses on Black 6, 2022. Coloured pencil on black paper, 20 x 20cm Nicky Marais (b. 1962) is a Namibian artist, educator and activist. Marais is well-known for her abstract artworks created using a personal vocabulary of abstract forms and colour relationships derived from everyday life as well as the socio-political history of Namibia and icons from around the continent. These forms are often layered using a mixture of stencils and traditional painting techniques. Marais describes her practice as a “constant hunt for significant shapes”, which are subjected to a process of near-obsessive repetition, appearing multiple times in different combinations. Much of her work explores the relationship between physical and spiritual worlds, which extends into an investigation of the relationship between the tangible and the intangible, the signifier and the signified. Speaking about Marais’ work, Rosa Namises said “Sometimes we are trapped between the gates and the snakes. We have to choose to go through the path of knowledge, to learn what the snakes have to teach us, and not allow ourselves to be trapped by the gates” (2017). Marais is recently retired from an eleven year posting as the Head of Department of Visual Arts at the College of the Arts in Windhoek. As an artist, she has exhibited extensively in Namibia and abroad. In 2017, The National Art Gallery of Namibia hosted a solo exhibition by Marais, titled ‘Presence in Absence’. Her next solo ‘Connections‘ was held at Guns & Rain Gallery in Johannesburg in 2020. Most recently in 2022, the artist participated in the Baker’s Bay...

This fabric work titled "Time Warp" is an original artwork by Kelly Kozma made of hand embroidery, colored pencil & acrylic paint on paper. The piece measures 15”h by 15”w framed. K...

This detailed artwork on paper puts emphasis on design and composition. A Navajo inspired rug motif is created using traditional design elements with a contemporary outcome. Symmetry...

This detailed artwork on paper puts emphasis on design and composition. A navajo inspired pattern is created using traditional design elements. The high contrasting, geometric patter...

This detailed artwork on paper puts emphasis on design and composition. A Navajo inspired rug motif is created using traditional design elements with a contemporary outcome. Symmetry...

This detailed artwork on paper puts emphasis on design and composition. A Navajo inspired rug motif is created using traditional design elements with a contemporary outcome. Symmetry...

This detailed artwork on paper puts emphasis on design and composition. A Navajo inspired rug motif is created using traditional design elements with a contemporary outcome. Symmetry...