“… 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 :
2022 Solo: Fragile creatures. (Fragile beings series). Hermanus Fynarts Festival. SPACE Curated, Hermanus
2021 Solo : “Lighter ground” (Fragile beings series), Baardskeerdersbos.
2020 Solo: “Ochre skies”, Baardskeerdersbos Art Route
| 2019 | Solo: “Unearthed” Gabrielkloof, Botrivier Residency: land art: Tankwa Artscape, Stonehenge Private Nature Reserve Solo: “Seated”, Baardskeerdersbos Art Route |
| 2018 | Land art: Tankwa Artscape, Stonehenge Private Nature Reserve Solo: “Heroes of resistance” NAF, Grahamstown Solo: Baardskeerdersbos Art Route |
| 2017 | Solo: “Hybrida” Breytenbach Centre, Wellington Solo: NAF, Grahamstown Solo: Baardskeerdersbos Art Route |
| 2016 | Public: Stellenbosch 360, Stellenbosch Solo: KKNK, Oudtshoorn Land art: Global Nomadic Art Project Solo: NAF, Grahamstown Solo: Baardskeerdersbos Art Route |
| 2015 | Public: Stellenbosch 360, Stellenbosch Solo: KKNK, Oudtshoorn Solo: Baardskeerdersbos Art Route |
| 2014 | Group: 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 |
| 2013 | Group: Prototype, D-Street Gallery, Stellenbosch Site_Specific Land Art Bienalle, Plettenberg Bay Group: “Homosapien” KZNSA, Durban Solo: “Grondhervorming” KKNK, Oudtshoorn Solo: Baardskeerdersbos Art Route |
| 2012 | Solo: KKNK, Oudtshoorn Commission: National Heritage Project Solo: Baardskeerdersbos Art Route |
| 2011 | International Land Art Bienalle, Plettenberg Bay. Solo: KKNK, Oudtshoorn Solo: Baardskeerdersbos Art Route |
| 2010 | Solo: KKNK, Oudtshoorn Commission: Bronze trophy, Cape Epic MTB Cycle Race Group: Summer Baardskeerdersbos Art Route, Baardskeerdersbos Group: Woordfees, Stellenbosch Solo: KKNK, Oudtshoorn |
| 2009 | Group: 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 |
| 2008 | Solo: “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 |
| 2007 | Two-man: “Binnestebuite”, KKNK, Oudtshoorn, (curated and exhibited) Solo: Volksblad Fees, Bloemfontein Solo: Hilton Arts Festival, Pietermaritzburg |
| 2006 | Two-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. |
| 1995-2005 | Facilitated 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. |
| 1994 | Solo: “Ten sculptors” ICA, Johannesburg Group: “Klein Karoo Group” Oudtshoorn |
| 1993 | Graduated with distinctions in painting and sculpture from Technikon Natal, Durban. |
| 1992 | Co-founded the Flat Gallery in Durban, an artists collective. https://www.siemonallen.org/flat.html |
| 1991 | Awarded the most promising student award from Foundation Art School, Cape Town, presented by Judith Mason. |
| 1988 | Matriculated from Oudtshoorn High School with a distinction in art. |
| 1971 | Born and grew up on a farm in the Little Karoo district of Oudtshoorn, South Africa. |