Ursula Van Wyk

I am a South African contemporary artist working in acrylic, exploring themes of freedom, ambition, and spirituality. Inspired by my first visit to New York, my recent work examines the symbolism of liberty and success — and the spiritual tension that can exist beneath them.

Through bold scale and layered imagery, I use familiar icons to ask deeper questions about identity, sacrifice, and transcendence. My work bridges cultural distance, approaching American symbolism from a reflective and emotional perspective rather than a political one.

I hold a degree in Occupational Therapy and an Honours degree in Psychology, with additional training in spiritual counselling. My academic and clinical background informs the psychological and symbolic depth of my work, particularly my exploration of identity, striving, transcendence, and the tension between material ambition and inner meaning.