Herman van Nazareth b. 1936, Evergem, Belgium pursued his studies in Ghent and Antwerp before receiving a bursary in the early 1960s to attend the Michaelis School of Art at the University of Cape Town. As a distinguished member of the anti-Apartheid “Sestigers’ group, his oeuvre, developed during the 1960s and 1970s, is recognised for its incisive sociopolitical commentary.
Van Nazareth’s artistic output remains highly relevant in today’s world amid ongoing conflict, political unrest, and the profound challenges posed by climate change. His acclaimed sculptures often delve into the complexities of human behaviour, particularly autocratic intolerance and brutality, articulating protest and anger in response to restrictions on freedom of thought and movement.
His portraiture spans a broad spectrum of visual interpretations of the human condition, frequently portraying anonymous figures—sometimes with ambiguous or absent features—rendered in contrasting tones and a restrained palette.
Van Nazareth’s landscapes are not tied to specific locations; instead, they evoke recollections, emotions, and subtle shifts in light and atmosphere. Sweeping areas of vivid colour animate the canvas, creating equilibrium between motion and stillness, while thick impasto conveys a sense of vitality and organic growth. His Still-life compositions suggest similar anonymity.
His works are held in collections around the world and are included in museum holdings in both South Africa and Belgium.
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