Biography

Nikki Swanepoel is an established artist, who has been producing art since 1983. Her professional career has been varied and adventurous. Having studied fine art she worked mainly as painter and printmaker, then changed directions, obtained a veterinary degree at Onderstepoort where she later joined the academic staff lecturing on animal behaviour and human-animal interaction and became intensely interested in environmental design for animals. Although Nikki took up art full time in 2000, she still makes the effort to work part time in the animal behavior field. Her energies; social, intellectual and physical, are prodigious.

Nikki’s work revolves around animals and the strong bond or importance of animals in our lives. Her Cattle as Cultural Markers in South Africa (M-Tech Fine Art degree fulfilment, University of Johannesburg) highlights the role of cattle in South African history. Using symbols, transfers and gestural markings she emphasizes cattle not only as cultural markers, but also as a source of income, livelihood, food, warmth and a source of key historical dispute.

Although Nikki is presently heralded for her ceramic work, she also works in mixed media on paper and silkscreen prints.

Exhibitions and Awards

Nikki has exhibited in numerous group and several solo exhibitions since 1983. She is recognised in South Africa as well as abroad having exhibited in London, Paris, Prague, Yugoslavia, and Canada.

Nikki’s printmaking earned her an international graphic art competition award (“Trienalle  Mondiale D’estampes Petit Format”) in France in 1994.  This award was one of only 17 prizes awarded to a total of 830 artists from 80 countries.  An exhibition of 40 serigraphs followed, which toured France. Her has painting earned her an award in “Animals in Art”, at Louisiana State University in 1997 and locally she obtained, amongst others, the Premier Award at the National Ceramics Exhibition in 2008.