As a young woman growing up in apartheid era South Africa, she fell in love with a Malay bass player. There could be no advantage really, only trouble and strife in this time and place.

Since it was impossible to disguise his cut Malaysian features, she used all her natural resources and creativity and with absolute precision darkened every inch of exposed skin on her body, successfully passing herself off for a light-eyed Cape Colored (Mulatto).

“Painting on a canvas is a natural extension of painting on a person. "
Soon live canvases translated to stretched ones.

"I tend to dive into the body and kind of sculpt and paint my way out. It’s a highly erotic experience."

With humor and color she was able to capture those troubling times in her retrospective series titled 'Masks'.

She continued to use the stretched canvas as opposed to her face to reflect her experiences with the 'Women Being Played As Instruments' series. With graphic detail these pieces depict an acute awareness of the artist’s personal relationships at the time.

Her newest series of work titled “The Cradling" is one of new identity.

“I must have images that speak about the full range of emotion. The complex mixtures of God and spirituality, sex and myth, forgiveness and feeling lost and hopeful all in one painting. It’s my job, as the artist to make my audience identify with my obsessions".

Her medium is an unusual mix of acrylics, makeup and at times gold leaf.

The work is personal, intimate, visceral, and provocative. Her use of color is intoxicating and one of the most powerful elements. Direct and brave it exposes tones of her South African origins and depicting a woman finding her way in New York City. She has been painting for 30 years.

The artist also excels with the written word, having composed articles for countless periodicals, dot coms and has published one book, Dear John. She is currently in the midst of yet another.

“My writing creates an arena where I can express my intellectual channels and my painting allows me the freedom to explore and express my physical self. They are both integral aspects of my spirit and fuel one another in a very inspirational way".

This inexhaustible and prolific artist lives between New York City, Johannesburg and Cape Town.

“When I first saw her work I was struck by how it was so raw and unfettered. Nothing was held back. When one views her work they do not see the façade of ordinary life, they see the artist in all her glory. What more could one ask for. She is truly unique and not merely adapting the techniques and ideas of predecessors," says Mr. Nathan Pereira, former Director of the Hilde Gerst Gallery on Madison Avenue, specializing in works by Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Modern Masters.

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