Madeleine van Manen
AVA Exhibition: The Promise, 2024 Nando’s Creative Exchange (Group Show) | 16.01.25 - 27.02.25
Madeleine van Manen is a contemporary artist based in Cape Town, known for her evocative oil paintings and experimental mixed-media works. A graduate of Port Elizabeth Technikon (now Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University), where she earned a National Diploma in Fine Art in 1988, van Manen has since developed a distinctive style that reflects her personal experiences and immediate surroundings. She has worked in the advertising and publishing industries, collaborated with fellow artists, and illustrated two collections of short stories, enriching her artistic practice with diverse influences.
Van Manen’s art often explores the complex relationship between society, nature, and urban environments. Her recent focus on cityscapes, especially those captured during the silence of lockdown, conveys a sense of stillness amidst the chaos of city life. Through her quiet landscapes and domestic scenes, she highlights the emotional resonance of places that embody human experience. A dedicated educator, until recently she had taught art at the Lycée Française du Cap, nurturing the next generation of creative thinkers.
She has exhibited extensively across South Africa, with her most recent solo exhibition, “BUILT,” showcased at NEL Gallery in 2023. Van Manen’s work invites viewers to reflect on themes of belonging and isolation in a bustling urban landscape.
“I obsessively paint the city, aiming to capture the essence of a scene and the emotions tied to that moment. My work revolves around the concepts of belonging and be(long) ing—a deep affinity for a place and a sense of acceptance within a community. Buildings tell the story of humanity; they are containers of life, places where we hide, rest, gather, and experience the full spectrum of human emotions. Yet, in a city of nearly five million people, it is paradoxically easy to feel isolated and anonymous. This great silence often resonates amidst the cacophony of urban life, prompting me to explore the quieter aspects of our existence.”
Website: https://madeleinevanmanen.art
Instagram: @madeleinevanmanen
