Gerhard van Niekerk was born in 1980 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. From a young age, Gerhard developed a keen interest in the human body.
Gerhard is also interested in the nature of our existence and our experience as living, conscious human beings. These are also the underlying themes of his sculptures.
Gerhard has developed these themes by putting together seemingly contradicting concepts as well as techniques. For example, hard vs soft; smooth vs rough; growth vs decay; permanent vs temporary; realistic vs abstract and classic vs contemporary.
His well-defined thematic approach, combined with his technical skill, results in not just beautifully made sculptures, but also thought-provoking pieces of art.
Gerhard prefers to model his sculptures in clay, afterwards he casts it in a unique marble and GFRC (glass fibre reinforced concrete) composite he developed. Â This medium creates sculptures of great strength and durability, while still allowing him to portray his interpretations of the human body.
In 2018, Gerhard entered into a partnership with the world-renowned hospitality and tourism group, Village N Life, and launched Studio G art galleries.
Represented by some of the most highly regarded and iconic galleries in South Africa, Gerhard’s work is sought after by private collectors both locally and internationally.