Willie Strydom

Willie Strydom was born in Johannesburg in 1951. The first evidence of his artistic inclination was in his primary school days when he started sketching everything he fancied. In high school he took art as a subject, and his mother still treasures his first oil painting of a dog resting on a sofa. After matriculating he attended the Pretoria Technikon where he studied graphic design and fine arts. On return from his army stint in Angola, he was employed by an engineering firm in their drawing office, where he worked for a period of twelve years. He still painted in his spare time. He then moved to the Natal South Coast and started a business with his brother. After 15 years in the business he decided to start painting full time. Willie loves vibrant colour and his interpretations of life have found their way into art galleries and private collections all over South Africa. His recent work is done in acrylic or oils, on canvas, often mounted on board. Willie draws his inspiration from his country and its rich history, especially from the old District Six and the Bo-Kaap. His work reflects in the freshness and happiness of his art. Willie has had many exhibitions, all very successful. his work is displayed in a large number of South African galleries.