Biography

Natasja de Wet was born in South Africa in 1968. She is a fine art and graphic design graduate from the Tshwane University of Technology and continued her studies in drawing and painting at the University of South Africa (UNISA). De Wet’s interest in subtly portraying the human psyche in her visual art led her to study Psychophonetics, an approach to psychotherapy and personal development, at Persephone College under Yehuda Tagar. In 2017, she completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art at the Michaelis School of Fine Art (University of Cape Town) under the supervision of Associate Professor Virginia McKenny and Senior Lecturer Fabian Saptouw, and graduated with distinction. In addition, a semester course in Academic Language and Literacy in English, at Unisa, University of South Africa, was completed in 2020.

Through her work, De Wet aims to reveal the inner character, or soft underbelly, of humankind. Mixed media, drawing, painting and assemblage enable De Wet to visually contemplate internal experiences such as growth, insecurity, sexuality, flux and the various expressions of the human psyche.

De Wet has held numerous solo exhibitions, the most recent of which was titled Melancholia (2019) at the Pathology Museum, UCT Pathology Learning Centre in Cape Town. Her work has also been included in group exhibitions and biennales in South Africa and internationally, some of the most notable being the Florence Biennale (Italy, 2009), the Izmir Biennale (Turkey, 2011) and Afrovibes at Galerie Chiellerie (The Netherlands, 2008). Her works are included in the collections of Sasol Gas; the city of Seinäjoki, Finland; the National Museum, South Africa and the Art Bank of South Africa. Various artworks from De Wet’s body of work Melancholia (2017-2018) are currently on loan to the Pathology Museum, Pathology Learning Centre, Department of Pathology, UCT Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town.

In 2023, De Wet completed a labour-intensive work commissioned by the Art Bank of South Africa. The point of departure of this work is how artistic practice can materially translate and therapeutically engage in possible relief and healing of psychological abuse and its implications such as fear, shame and vulnerability, caused by unequal patriarchal personal relationships and gender inequality in the household of the family.

De Wet is working towards a solo exhibition and various other mixed media art projects.

Curriculum Vitae

TERTIARY TRAINING
 

Tshwane University of Technology

  • Diploma - National Diploma Fine Art

  • Diploma - National Diploma Graphic Design

Persephone College

  • Diploma - Psychophonetics Personal Development

University of South Africa - UNISA

  • BA Visual Art - (Third year level)

University of Cape Town - UCT

  • Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art - Distinction, Michaelis School of Fine Art

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

  • CeraMIX – art.b Gallery – Bellville Art Association – Belville 2024

  • Ellipsis: Approximations to a Voice – Johannes Stegmann Art Gallery – Free State Arts Festival – Bloemfontein 2024

  • Fibre Art Exhibition – Kanonkop Gallery – Kanonkop Wine Estate –Stellenbosch 2024

  • Artroute Project Space – The Bijou – Cape Town 2024

  • Atlas – Rust-en-Vrede Gallery – Durbanville 2024

  • CeraMIX – art.b Gallery – Bellville Art Association – Belville 2023

  • SANAVA Member Benefit Auction – Cité Internationale des Arts – 2023

  • CeraMIX:TEXTURE – art.b Gallery – Bellville Art Association – Belville 2022

  • Vuleka – art.b Gallery – Bellville Art Association – Belville 2022

  • Gothic Romantic – Edg2020 Gallery – Pretoria 2021

  • Affie 100 Trust Art Exhibition and Auction – Affie Trust – Pretoria 2021

  • Affordable Art Fair – Edg2020 Gallery – Midrand 2021

  • Home Is Where The Art Is: Art Is Where The Home Is – Zeits MOCAA – Cape Town 2020

  • Becoming: What Is And What Is Not – Oliewenhuis Art Museum – Bloemfontein 2020

  • How Small Can You Go – Artbox Gallery – Pretoria 2019

  • Tiny Treasures – art.b Gallery – Cape Town 2019

  • Christmas Exhibition – Is Art Gallery – Franschoek 2018 - 2019

  • Tiny Treasures – art.b Gallery – Cape Town 2018

  • Synesthesia – Artbox Gallery – Pretoria 2018

  • Raven ArtWear Launch – Cape Town 2018

  • Graduate Exhibition – Michaelis School of Fine Art – Cape Town 2017

  • Abstract – Youngblood Arts & Culture Development – Cape Town 2017

  • Red Carpet Concepts Annual Fashion Show – Camps Bay 2016

  • Artists living with disabilities – Youngblood Arts & Culture Development – Cape Town 2015

  • In the Garden – The Exhibitionists Group – Camps Bay 2015

  • Beyond Borders – YLI RAJOJEN - SEINAJOEN TAIDEHALLI – Finland 2015

  • Youngblood Collaboration – Youngblood Arts & Culture Development – Cape Town 2015

  • Art of Objects by artists – Allderman POP UP Gallery and The Studio – Kalk Bay 2014

  • Edgemead Library Exhibition – Artmore Marketing Services – Cape Town 2014

  • 1000 DRAWINGS Empowerment Project – Cape Town 2014

  • Om die hasepad te kies – Die Breytenbach Galery/Gallery – Wellington 2013

  • Fried Autumn Art Fair – FRIED Contemporary Gallery – Pretoria 2013

  • HAWK Hangklip Art Week – Harold Porter National Botanical Garden – Betty’s Bay 2013

  • Christmas Exhibition – Is Art Gallery at Le Quartier Francais – Franschoek 2012 - 2013

  • Alter Ego – Rust & Vrede Gallery – Durbanville 2012

  • Life – Rust & Vrede Gallery – Durbanville 2012

  • Johannesburg 360 degrees – Artspace – Johannesburg 2011

  • Self Portrait – Rust & Vrede Gallery – Durbanville 2011

  • Oppitafel: Babette’s Feast –Artspace – Johannesburg 2009

  • AVA Artreach Artists’ Clocks – Association for Visual Arts – Cape Town 2008

  • Afrovibes – Galerie Chiellerie – Amsterdam, The Netherlands 2008

  • Oppitafel VI – Artspace – Johannesburg 2007

  • Greenhouse – from painting to plastic – Bell-Roberts Gallery, Lourensford Estate – Somerset West 2007

  • Flesh – KKNK Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees – Oudtshoorn 2007

  • Turn the Table – Artspace – Johannesburg 2006

  • Dornier Wine Estate Art Expo – Stellenbosch 2006

  • Portraits – Chelsea on 34 – Darling 2006

  • Membership Exhibition – Association for Visual Art – Cape Town 2005

  • Oppitafel – Artspace – Johannesburg 2005

  • Absolut Finale – AVA – Cape Town 2005

  • Absolut Moment – AVA – Cape Town 2004

  • Graphics & Ceramics – Chelsea on 34 – Darling 2004

  • Serenity – Chelsea on 34 – Darling 2003

  • Absolut Magic – AVA – Cape Town 2003

  • Puzzles – Rust & Vrede Gallery – Durbanville 2003

  • Bon Voyage – Chelsea Gallery – Cape Town 2003

  • Salon Sale – Rust & Vrede Gallery – Durbanville 2002

  • Gifted – Bellville Art Association – Cape Town 2002

  • Alteration – Chelsea Gallery – Cape Town 2002

  • Under the Southern Cross – Chelsea Gallery – Cape Town 2002

  • Absolut Voyeur – AVA – Cape Town 2002

  • Aarsel – KKNK Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees – Oudtshoorn 2001

  • Transparency – Chelsea Gallery – Cape Town 2000

  • Group Exhibition 1 – Joao Ferreira Fine Art – Cape Town 2000

  • Group Exhibition 2 – Joao Ferreira Fine Art – Cape Town 2000

  • Unisa Student Exhibition – National Gallery, Annexe Gallery – Cape Town 1999

  • New Art Exhibition – Joao Ferreira Fine Art – Cape Town 1999

  • Membership Exhibition – Association of Visual Art – Cape Town 1999

  • Unisa Student Exhibition – African Window – Pretoria 1999

  • Technikon Exhibition – Noord-Transvaalse Raad van Kultuursake – Pretoria 1991

  • Technikon Pretoria Final Year Exhibition – Pretoria Art Association – Pretoria 1991

  • Technikon Group Exhibition – Kempton Park 1991

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

  • Melancholia – Pathology Museum (UCT Pathology Learning Centre)
    Cape Town 2019

  • Running Towards Yourself – Casa Labia Gallery
    Cape Town 2013

  • Thicker Skin – Association for Visual Arts (AVA)
    Cape Town 2008

  • RE-CON-TEXT – Joao Ferreira Gallery
    Cape Town 2004

  • Living in Process – Chelsea Gallery
    Cape Town 2002

  • Facing Reality – Chelsea Gallery
    Cape Town 2001

BIENNALES

  • Izmir Biennale – Izmir, Turkey 2011

  • Florence Biennale – Florence, Italy 2009

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

  • Vuleka (Final) – art.b Gallery – Bellville Art Association – Belville 2022

  • Florence Biennale - Award for “Work on Paper" – Florence, Italy 2009

  • Bellville New Signatures Competition (Final) – Bellville Art Association
    Cape Town 1999

  • Bellville New Signatures Competition (Final) – Bellville Art Association
    Cape Town 1997

  • ABSA Atelier Competition (Final) – Pretoria Art Museum 1996

TELEVISION AND RADIO INTERVIEWS

  • FMR, Fine Music Radio – Cultural Roundup – 2019

  • DSTV, Fashion One – 2016

  • RADIO SONDER GRENSE, RSG – 2009

  • SABC 2, Curious Culture – 2006

  • DSTV, Kunskafee – 2002

  • DSTV, Kunskafee – 2001

WORK EXPERIENCE AS LECTURER

 

  • April 1997 – August 1997
    The Design School, Southern Africa (Pretoria and Johannesburg)
    Graphic Design and Fine Art Lecturer

  • January 1998 – December 1998
    Ruth Prowse College of Art and Design (Cape Town)
    Head of Graphic Design Department
    Graphic Design and Fine Art Lecturer

  • January 2008 – October 2013
    Mixed Media Art Classes (Cape Town)
    Self-Exploration and Mixed Media Art Workshops

  • March 2013 – January 2014
    Casa Labia Gallery (Muizenberg, Cape Town)
    Rust & Vrede Gallery (Durbanville, Cape Town)

  • March 2016 onwards – Self-Exploration and Mixed Media Art Workshops

  • March 2019 – Pathology Learning Centre – University of Cape Town (UCT)

  • August 2024 – Kanonkop Gallery – Kanonkop Wine Estate (Stellenbosch)