Wessel Marais

Wessel Marais | 1935–2009

Wessel Marais was a South African painter known for his energetic use of colour, expressive brushwork and instinctive ability to find beauty in everyday scenes.

His path to becoming an artist was not a conventional one. Marais initially worked in the Post Office before gradually moving towards a creative career through evening studies and private tuition. His development was shaped by a number of important influences, including Zakkie Eloff, as well as the work of Erich Mayer and the European Impressionists. Encouragement from fellow painter Giuseppe Catty also played a role as Marais established himself professionally.

Working mainly in oil, Marais painted a wide variety of subjects, from harbour scenes and fishing boats to landscapes, interiors, flowers and figures. What connects these works is a sense of movement and immediacy. His paintings are rarely static; colour, light and loose handling give them a lively, spontaneous character.

Marais built a loyal following during his lifetime and exhibited widely in South Africa. Today, his work continues to be collected and traded on the secondary market.

For buyers, Wessel Marais offers a strong combination of South African subject matter, Impressionist influence and distinctive painterly charm.

The Art Collective is proud to offer a selection of original works by Wessel Marais.