Spotlight: Meet Inspired Local Artist Mary Visser

As a talented local artist from Cape Town, South Africa, Mary Visser boasts a portfolio of creative work in collections both locally and abroad. As a creative soul, Mary shares a deep passion for art and believes that painting is its own reward. We had the privilege of talking to Mary and finding out more about her creative processes…

Tell us about your background.

I was born in 1971 and grew up in Somerset West in the Western Cape, South Africa. I studied drawing and painting at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, where I received my BFA in 1992. In 2013 I completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Art, with distinction, at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town.

I have had six solo exhibitions, the two most recent being ‘Funny Things are Everywhere’ at the AVA Gallery and ‘Assembly’ at Everard Read’s Circa Gallery, Cape Town in 2018. I’ve also participated in various group exhibitions including ‘Summer Show’ at the Everard Read Gallery, Cape Town, 131agallery in Woodstock in 2019 and most recently at rk Contemporary in Riebeeck Kasteel.

What does your work aim to say?

My paintings are the result of the drawings, notes and musings I make as I travel between my home in Rondebosch and my studio in Salt River. I am interested in attention as a contemplative practice. Rather than depicting the city as an aesthetic space, I want to disrupt the pre-conceived and structured nature of the built environment in order to locate its human imprint. What are the social and personal implications of living and working in this context? How and where do the external and internal spaces intersect and what do we understand from this?

Who are your biggest influences?

Richard Diebenkorn (American painter), Joanne Greenbaum (American painter), Hans Hofmann (German-American painter), Robert Motherwell (American painter), and Sterling Ruby (British multi-disciplinary artist).

How have you developed your career?

I’ve just kept on doing what I love. Painting is its own reward. I’ve not been very strategic with regard to my career. I believe in working with honesty and integrity and friendliness.

How do you navigate the art world?

I just keep painting and staying true to myself and painting paintings I want to see. I have a few galleries in Cape Town that like and support and sell my work; like Kalk Bay Modern, 131a gallery and Everard Read.

Which current art world trends are you following?

I don’t consciously follow trends but I am very interested in the world of fashion and interiors. Particularly new colour palettes for the season and the shapes of old and new design objects.

What memorable responses have you had to your work?

Boyd & Geordi Ferguson from Cecile & Boyd are fans and have bought a number of pieces on behalf of their clients as well as in their personal capacity for their own homes here in Cape Town and Lisbon.