Elsa-Marie Fourie

I am a self-taught artist based in Cape Town, drawn to the expressive power of oil and acrylic painting. My journey with art began in childhood, sparked by early encouragement and a memorable second-place finish in an international art competition while I was still in primary school. Though I trained formally as a social worker and hold a master’s degree in social work, art has remained a quiet but persistent companion—one that I returned to with renewed passion in 2018.

I work primarily in oils and acrylics, with a particular fondness for palette knife techniques that allow texture and spontaneity to emerge. My practice includes landscapes and portraits, each approached with the same intention: to evoke connection, to honor emotion, and to invite viewers into a space where art becomes a remedy.

My work is deeply influenced by my years in social work, where I witnessed the raw beauty and complexity of the human spirit. These experiences taught me to see beyond surfaces—to notice the quiet resilience, the unspoken grief, and the moments of transformation that shape our lives. Painting allows me to process these emotional landscapes and offer a visual space for reflection and healing. Each canvas becomes a dialogue: between nature and emotion, between memory and presence, between the seen and the felt.

Nature is my greatest teacher. I find endless inspiration in its compositions, palettes, and rhythms. Painting en plein air—immersed in the outdoors—brings a sense of immediacy and aliveness to my work. Horses, hiking trails, ocean waves, and quiet landscapes often find their way into my paintings, not just as subjects but as emotional anchors.

SASA and CAS exhibitions at Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (2018, 2019)
“Art in the Park” in Rondebosch by SASA (2018)
Chardonnay Deli (2019, 2020)
Artvark Gallery, Kalkbay (2020)
Zeitz MOCAA - Home is Where the Art is: Art is Where the Home is; at the V&A Waterfront, Cape Town (2020)
Cafe Nood - Little Cafe Gallery (2022)
Hofmeyer Hall in Stellenbosch (2021)
PJ Olivier School of Art in Stellenbosch (2021 & 2022)
Lanzerac, Stellenbosch - 2022 (wine art exhibition)
Muratie Wine Farm art auction (2023)
Merit Exhibition by SASA (2024)
Noordhoek Art Point - The Blues Exhibition (2025)
Society of St Pius X CT, Pinelands (December 2025)