Elli Wahl

My name is Elli and I was born and raised in Germany, moved to the UK for 2 years after school and have been living in Johannesburg for the past 12 years. I studied Fine Arts at Wits and used my artistic knowledge to start my own bespoke wedding-cake business.

Due to the pandemic and major restrictions on events the business was closed after 8 years during which I became the top wedding-cake designer in South Africa. As I mourned the loss of my edible canvas I rediscovered painting. This process has been fuelled by ambivalence, rage, disappointment, frustration, and grief - which has led to depictions of electric excitement as death flows into rebirth and a rediscovery of the joys of texture, nuances, and movement.

My paintings are visual narratives - a juxtaposition of the despair, hopelessness, rage and frustration; and a new-found hope for passionate expression.

Honours Degree in Fine Arts at the Wits School of Arts in Johannesburg, South Africa

2013 - Honours final group exhibition at the
Wits Art Museum
"Newwork 13"

2021 - Group Exhibition at the Henry George Gallery
"Pretty Much"