Riette is an artist based in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Her multidisciplinary practice includes mixed media paintings and ceramics, with a particular interest in naturally sourced materials.

Born into a family of creatives, childhood holidays and free time were often spent around a dining table filled with art materials. Guided by her mother and two aunts,  all practicing artists-teachers, and her grandmother who was an author and illustrator, a spirit of play and experimentation in making process was cultivated. Her paternal grandmother, a dress maker, instilled in her a love for fabric, thread and wool. 

“It is the comfort of these activities – the familiar smells, the endless possibilities and silence found in the creative process, that has kept drawing me back to art throughout my life.”

Alongside raising a family, Riette has nurtured her creativity. In 2024, she compled a Master’s degree in Fine Art with distinction, marking a new direction in her practice. The rich experience of her studies deepened her interest in the interconnectedness of human and environmental wellbeing, and the importance of care for ourselves, one another and the natural world.

Her work explores how contemporary society shapes our sense of connection to self, others, nature, meaningful work and spirituality. During her studies, she began working exclusively with foraged soils, rocks and botanical materials, processing her own earth and lake pigments and wild clay, resulting in an intimate knowledge of her materials.

This sensory rich experience with her materials, sparked an investigation into neuroscience findings in the fields of Sensory Integration Theory, Polyvagal Theory, Somatic therapies and MBSR. As a result, her art started to engage in discourse relating to mental- and ‘environ-mental’ health. Foundational to the work is an emphasis on process and the therapeutic value of sensorimotor methods of making.

This dance between soil and soul during her studies, created a significant metaphor and a turning point in her approach to art making. Today her art and workshops are a continuation of the quest to find equanimity and wellbeing for both herself and others.

The Latin words for ‘soil/earth’  and ‘human’, share the same root word: ‘humanus’ (from which the word ‘humble’ also derives). ‘Humanus’ is a blend of the Latin words ‘homo’ (man) and ‘humus’ (soil/earth/ground). Additionally, in the Hebrew Bible, the name ‘Adam’ is derived from the word ‘adamah’, meaning ‘soil’ or ‘earth’ in Hebrew, and when used as a noun, means ‘man’ or ‘humanity’. Revealing another beautiful and significant connection.

“Whether through my personal art-works, through writing or workshops, I aspire to share my discoveries with others, in the hope that it will foster connection, provide relief or simply suggest a shared language for the experience of life – beyond words.”