Niel Jonker

Niel Jonker Profile


“… we should talk less and draw more. I personally would like to renounce speech altogether and, like organic nature, communicate everything I have to say in sketches.-Johan Wolfgang Goethe

Born in 1971, Niel Jonker has been a full-time artist since 2005, and is a trained sculptor who paints prolifically en plein-air, and facilitates artisanal breadmaking workshops.

He works with landscape and materiality toward diverse yet consistent applications. Practicing in the figuritive bronze tradition while recently developing terracotta sculptures that incorporate indigenous clay. Painting modest scale panels outdoors has been a focus for over a decade while commissions for large studio canvases are accepted periodically. Participation in residencies have introduced simulating collaborations. And as a pioneering artisan breadmaker Niel has made significant contributions over the years when working with agriculturists and artisans, while activating and developing countless home bakers in their practice.

Exhibition resume :

2022Solo: Fragile creatures. (Fragile beings series). Hermanus Fynarts Festival. SPACE Curated, Hermanus
2021Solo : “Lighter ground” (Fragile beings series), Baardskeerdersbos.
2020Solo: “Ochre skies”, Baardskeerdersbos Art Route
2019Solo: “Unearthed” Gabrielkloof, Botrivier
Residency: land art: Tankwa Artscape, Stonehenge Private Nature Reserve
Solo: “Seated”, Baardskeerdersbos Art Route
2018Land art: Tankwa Artscape, Stonehenge Private Nature Reserve
Solo: “Heroes of resistance” NAF, Grahamstown
Solo: Baardskeerdersbos Art Route
2017Solo: “Hybrida” Breytenbach Centre, Wellington
Solo: NAF, Grahamstown
Solo: Baardskeerdersbos Art Route
2016Public: Stellenbosch 360, Stellenbosch
Solo: KKNK, Oudtshoorn
Land art: Global Nomadic Art Project
Solo: NAF, Grahamstown
Solo: Baardskeerdersbos Art Route
2015Public: Stellenbosch 360, Stellenbosch
Solo: KKNK, Oudtshoorn
Solo: Baardskeerdersbos Art Route
2014Group: Magicus, D-Street Gallery, Stellenbosch
Solo: KKNK, Oudtshoorn
Solo: “The Artisan” Hermanus Fynarts
Solo: “Fire-face” Grahamstown National Arts Festival
Public: Design and crafting of masks and props: “The Magic Shell”Jungle Theatre, Cape Town.
Solo: Baardskeerdersbos Art Route
2013Group: Prototype, D-Street Gallery, Stellenbosch
Site_Specific Land Art Bienalle, Plettenberg Bay
Group: “Homosapien” KZNSA, Durban
Solo: “Grondhervorming” KKNK, Oudtshoorn
Solo: Baardskeerdersbos Art Route
2012Solo: KKNK, Oudtshoorn
Commission: National Heritage Project
Solo: Baardskeerdersbos Art Route
2011International Land Art Bienalle, Plettenberg Bay.
Solo: KKNK, Oudtshoorn
Solo: Baardskeerdersbos Art Route
2010Solo: KKNK, Oudtshoorn
Commission: Bronze trophy, Cape Epic MTB Cycle Race
Group: Summer Baardskeerdersbos Art Route, Baardskeerdersbos
Group: Woordfees, Stellenbosch
Solo: KKNK, Oudtshoorn
2009Group: Summer Salon, Hout Street Gallery, Paarl
Group: 41st Summer Exhibition, Strydom Gallery, George
Group: Summer Exhibition, Stanford Galleries, Stanford
Group: Gala Exhibition, Walker Bay Gallery, Hermanus
Group: Oudebrug Gallery, Elgin
Solo: Baardskeerdersbos Art Route, Baardskeerdersbos
Group: “Foundrymans Choice”, Cultivaria Festival, Paarl
Two-man: “Solitude”, Kraalstudio, Pretoria
Group: Klein Karoo Klassique, Oudtshoorn
Solo: “The Fountain”, McGregor
Group: “Dawid´s Choice” Gallery Red Black and White, Stellenbosch
Solo: Baardskeerdersbos Art Route, Baardskeerdersbos
Solo: “Terroir” KKNK, Oudtshoorn
Group: “Presence”, Off the Wall Gallery, Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerset West
2008Solo: “Pause”, Prince Albert Gallery, Prince Albert
Group: “Stilte”, KKNK, Oudtshoorn, (curated and exhibited)
Group: Grootbos Private Nature Reserve, Gansbaai
Group: Steenbokslaagte, Lamberts Bay
Group: “Expression”, Carol Lee Fine Art, Johannesburg
Solo: Hilton Arts Festival, Pietermaritzburg
Group: “Metaphor”, Carol Lee Fine Art, Johannesburg
Group: Oudebrug Gallery, Elgin
Two-man: “B-Bos Boys”, Missions House Gallery, Onrust, Hermanus
Group: Summer Salon, Strydom Gallery, George
Solo: Lomond Wine Estate, Gansbaai
Solo: Baardskeerdersbos Art Route, Baardskeerdersbos
Solo: Hermanuspietersfontein Cellar, Hermanus
2007Two-man: “Binnestebuite”, KKNK, Oudtshoorn, (curated and exhibited)
Solo: Volksblad Fees, Bloemfontein
Solo: Hilton Arts Festival, Pietermaritzburg
2006Two-man: “Twee Skilders” Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees, Oudtshoorn
“Kunskoop”, facilitated and initiated a panel discussion of six leading gallerists, curators, and art dealers, KKNK, Oudtshoorn.
1995-2005Facilitated and curated annual exhibitions of other artists at KKNK, Oudtshoorn. Worked in the export industry for a decade, manufacturing ostrich leather and managing an ostrich feather sorting plant.
1994Solo: “Ten sculptors” ICA, Johannesburg
Group: “Klein Karoo Group” Oudtshoorn
1993Graduated with distinctions in painting and sculpture from Technikon Natal, Durban.
1992Co-founded the Flat Gallery in Durban, an artists collective. https://www.siemonallen.org/flat.html
1991Awarded the most promising student award from Foundation Art School, Cape Town, presented by Judith Mason.
1988Matriculated from Oudtshoorn High School with a distinction in art.
1971Born and grew up on a farm in the Little Karoo district of Oudtshoorn, South Africa.