Marieke Kruger is a practicing visual artist, educator and researcher living and working in Paarl, South Africa. She is also the Founder and Director of her recently established NPO Prison Art Business entitled O.I.P.A. Projects (Outsider/ Insider Prison Art Projects), which focus on printmaking and drawing as therapeutic fine art mediums towards the ultimate goal of positive identity transformation and rehabilitation of prisoners with artistic talent inside as well as outside of prison confines. Kruger's prospective PhD research as well as her own independent art practice are thus closely related (the one informing the other in a interactive or reciprocal process of experience and knowledge through the different fine art processes) to her art workshops and research in prisons.
Read MoreKruger was raised on their family farm called "Rainbow's End" Wine Estate in the Banhoek Valley near Stellenbosch. Being surrounded by the beauty of nature since childhood, she developed a growing desire to study art and completed her B.A. Fine Arts Degree at the University of Stellenbosch in 1994 (Majoring in Painting). In 1996 the family moved to Johannesburg where Kruger successfully completed her M.Tech Degree studies in Visual Arts (specializing in Drawing and Printmaking) (cum laude) and also completed a 4 month student exchange programme, specializing in printmaking at the Karel de Groote Hogeschool in Antwerp, Belgium after which she returned to South Africa to complete her M.Tech studies with her first solo exhibition entitled "A Holy War" at the Civic Gallery in Johannesburg in 1998. Kruger participated in several local and international group and solo exhibitions locally and abroad and finally completed a second Masters Degree in Visual Arts, specializing in drawing under the mentorship of the well known artist Prof. Elizabeth Gunter at the University of Stellenbosch in 2014. Kruger has recently received the news that her PhD Proposal entitled "Transformation of the self and the other in carceral space: An exploration of the empathic sublime through drawing" has been accepted by UNISA's Higher Degrees Committee towards officially commencing her PhD studies in January 2023.
Most recently, Kruger is curated a three person/artist exhibition at the Deepest Darkest gallery entitled "Confessionale" which included herself as well as artists Henk Serfontein and Wilma Cruise (October 2020. Kruger also curated (in collaboration with Cecile Blevi) and collaborated in a two person/artist exhibition with X-prison artist Joseph Buys at the MOK Gallery, Muratie Wine Estate (Stellenbosch) entitled "The Waiting Room I"/"Die Wagkamer I". Furthermore, Kruger participated in various group exhibitions in 2022 and are working towards her next Solo exhibitions at the SMAC Gallery (Stellenbosch) entitled "Confessionale II" in February/March 2023 followed by another solo exhibition entitled "Forensic Bodies I" at the Fire Station Gallery in Johannesburg in November/December 2023. (Lizamore & Associates Ltd)
