"The human body, either in frenetic movement or
caught at rest, remains my only playground". MM
Marke is essentially a poet at heart.
Having abandoned the pen and paper in exchange for space itself, Marke now uses sculpture to create his own unique, quirky concoction of 'visual poetry'.
According to Marke: "Figures fascinate me...especially the female figure. I prefer the nude figure as it is free of context allowing for an open-ended expression of abstract concepts and emotions. The figure, metaphoric in every sense, describes a state of mind, or more often the projection of ‘mind’ into a space removed... a mind-space perhaps.
This is a comfortable, magical space without restraint or restriction. The human body, either in frenetic movement or caught at rest, remains my only playground."
"Generally my sculptures transmit the awareness of
transitioning into adulthood without losing the
subjective naivety of the younger person. These works
are about growing up on your own terms. Often there is a
subtle reference to the question 'What If?' - What if Eve
hadn't plucked the apple? What if we had chosen a
different 'shoe' for our path? Through this questioning we
may perhaps arrive at a deeper self-knowledge". MM
Marke has pioneered the use of suspension to best display his works and to create the feeling of lightness, whimsy and freedom.
Marke constantly re-invents himself as an artist but always remain true to his narrative. He is an innovator who constantly experiments with new concepts: these include the use of other metals (e.g. stainless steel); new technology (lazer cutting, scanning and enlargement); and new finishes (textures and chroming).
Marke Meyer is a sculptor, art photographer and a multi-media artist.
He was born in Kokstad, spent his childhood in the mountains of Lesotho and matriculated from Westville Boy's High School in 1981.
He studied for a B.Sc. Agric. (Hort) and graduated in 1987. He then opened his own wholesale nursery business which he ran successfully for eighteen years.
During all these years he studied art privately with his passion being in all things figurative. Sculpture and photography became his tools to explore the human figure. Years ago, with his growing success as an artist, he was finally able to sell the horticultural business and set out on a career as a full time artist.
Marke Meyer's work is available for sale in Germany, Switzerland and many South African galleries. He also ships works worldwide.His pieces have traveled abroad to North America, Central America, South America, United Kingdom, Europe, New Zealand, Asia and Australia.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024 SCULPTX – The Melrose Gallery, Johannesburg
6th September – 2nd November 2024
2024 Our Better Nature – Art@Africa Gallery, V&A Waterfront, Western Cape.
15th August 2024.
2024 Solo Studio Exhibition – Moi Art Boutique Gallery, Riebeek Kasteel, Western
Cape. 9 – 11th August 2024
2023 venUS & eARTh - The Gallery, Lifestyle Centre, Ballito, KwaZulu Natal, RSA
March - April 2023
2021 This is Art - @ CTICC - Cape Town Art Fair
(Marke Meyer & Kobus Walker)
26-28 November 2021
2020 The opening of the Corrie Scribente Gallery, Umhlanga, KwaZulu Natal, RSA
27th November 2020.
2020 The opening of the Art@Africa Hermanus Gallery, Western Cape, RSA
5th November 2020
2020 Riverbend Art & Wine Gallery, Southbroom, KwaZulu Natal, RSA
(Sculptor Marke Meyer & painters Everett Duarte, Frances Duarte & Munro)
24th - 5th October 2020
2020 So Much Talent In Our Country - Exhibition & Launch of Art@Africa Art Book,
Cape Town , Waterfront, Cape, RSA
2020 The opening of the Julie Miller African Contemporary Gallery, Randburg,
Johannesburg, RSA (Marke Meyer & Sonja Smeyers)
2020 A New Tomorrow - Imbizo Gallery @ The Pearls, Umhlanga, RSA.
2019 Trascendence / Transzendenz - Kunstgalerie Meerbusch, Dusseldorf, Germany
(Marke Meyer & Everett Duarte & Frances Schandera)
2018 Intrinsic Flow - Imbizo Gallery @ The Pearls, Umhlanga, KZN
2018 Not a Painting - Show Room Gallery, Pretoria
2018 At the Heart of Laughter - Gallery on Leviseur, Bloemfontein
(Marke Meyer, Tay Dall, Rudolf Bitzer)
2018 Decorex Durban 2018, KZN
(Duarte artists & Marke Meyer)
2017/8 State of Grace - Imbizo Gallery, Ballito, KZN
(Marke Meyer, David Hadaway)
2017 Bronze Art Africa Gallery - White River, Mpumalanga
(Marke Meyer & Michael Canadas - partners in own Gallery)
2017 Present in Absence - Candice Berman Gallery, Bryanston, Johannesburg.
(Louise Almon, Marke Meyer)
2017 Tiny - In Toto Gallery, Johannesburg
2017 Mute Wisdom Art@Durbanvillhill - Cape
2017 Poetry in Motion - Art@Almenkerk - Elgin Grabow / Cape
2017 Decorex - Durban 2017
(Duarte artists & Marke Meyer)
2016 Summertide Group Exhibition, The Gallery Riebeek Kasteel, Cape.
2016 Sculpture Exhibition, Imbizo Gallery launch, Umhlanga (Pearl Walk), KwaZulu
Natal, S.A.
2016 Sculpture Exhibition, Hilton Arts Festival, KwaZulu Natal, S.A.
2016 Sculpture Exhibition, Candice Berman Fine Art, Johannesburg, S.A.
(Marke Meyer, Gerhard van Eck, Michael Canandas)
2016 Start Art Fair, Candice Berman Fine Art, Saatchi Gallery, London
2016 Turbine Art Fair (TAF 2016), Candice Berman Fine Art, Turbine Hall, Johannesburg, S.A.
2016 That Art Fair, Candice Berman Fine Art, Woodstock, Cape Town
2016 KKNK Arts Festival, Candice Berman Fine Art, Oudtshoorn, S.A.
2016 Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, Candice Berman Fine Art, S.A.
2016 Wayward Dreams - Imbizo Gallery, Ballito, S.A.
(Marke Meyer, Carl Roberts, Elizabeth Balcomb, Isaac Sithole, Terri Broll,
Gerhard van Eck).
2016 Duarte Artists & Marke Meyer, Durban Exhibition Centre, S.A.
(Marke Meyer, Everett Duarte, Frances Duarte, Izzy Duarte)
2015 Turbine Art Fair (TAF2015), Candice Berman Fine Art, Turbine Hall,
Johannesburg, S.A.
2015 Marke Meyer & Joy Heyneke @ The Leonardo Gallery,
Morelettapark, Pretoria, S.A.
2015 Into Thin Air, Imbizo Gallery, Ballito
(Marke Meyer, Steve van der Schyff, Nicolaas Roos, Everett Duarte, Frances
Duarte, Mpenja)
2015 The Child Inside - Rooftop VII, St. Lorient Art & Fashion Gallery, Brooklyn, Pretoria, S.A.
(Andre Otto, Marke Meyer, Andriaan Diedericks, Gordon Froud, Guy Du Toit, Rossouw Van der Walt, Mchelle le Grange, Setlamorago Mashilo, Caitlin Greenberg, Ruhan Janse Van Vuuren, Nelson Thaba, Sara Richards, Noko Mello, Francos Venter, Ronit Judelman, Yannis Generalis and Jaco Sieberhagen)
2014 Wishful Thinking, Gallery 4, Shelly Beach, S.A.
2014 No Tomorrow, Imbizo Gallery, Ballito, S.A.
(Marke Meyer, Izzy Duarte, Terri Broll, Michael Canadas, Leoni Needham)
2014 Turbine Art Fair (TAF2014), Candice Berman Fine Art, Turbine Hall,
Johannesburg, S.A.
2013 Hilton Arts Festival, Hilton, S.A.
2013 In Touch, Imbizo Gallery, Ballito, S.A.
(Marke Meyer, The Duarte Artists, Mpenja)
2012 Life Force, Imbizo Gallery, Ballito, S.A.
(Marke Meyer, Carl Roberts, Izzy Duarte, Anton Smit)
2010 Dimitrov & Meyer, Riverbend Art Gallery, Southbroom, S.A.
(Branco Dimitrov, Marke Meyer)
2009 Shades of Grey, Kizo Art Gallery, Ballito, S.A.
(Clint Stijdom, Marke Meyer)
2008 ColaborVent, Margate, S.A.
2007 Walking Through Walls, Kizo Art Gallery, Umghlanga, S.A.
(Marke Meyer, Gavin Risi, Everett Duarte, Frances Duarte)
2006 PPC Young Sculptors Awards - Association of Arts, Pretoria, S.A.
2006 Access Denied, Red Eye, Durban Art Gallery, Durban, S.A.
2006 Transform, Red Eye, Durban Art Gallery, Durban, S.A.
2005 Contemporary Women by 2 Men, Depictions Gallery, KZN, S.A.
(Marke Meyer, Everett Duarte)
2003 ColaborArt 13 to 18, Margate Art Museum, KZN, S.A.
2002 ColaborArt 7 to 12, Margate Art Museum, KZN, S.A.
2001 ColaborArt 1 to 6, Margate Art Museum, KZN, S.A.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2024 Marke Meyer @ Hartebeespoort - De Handelspos Sentrum, Hartebeestpoort,
North West Province, S.A. (Permanent collection)
2019 Beneath the Surface - Art@Clocktower, Cape Town Waterfront, Cape
2019 The Games We Play - Riverbend Art & Wine Gallery, Southbroom, KZN, S.A.
2019 Poetry in Motion II - Art@Clocktower, Cape Town Waterfront, Cape
2019 In Dreams So Far Removed - Imbizo Gallery, Ballito, KZN, S.A.
2019 A Place to Hide - Imbizo Gallery, Umhlanga, KZN, SA.
2018 Poetry in Motion - Art@Clocktower, Cape Town Waterfront, Cape
2017 A Legacy of Laughter and Lost Moments - Durbanville Hills Wine Estate, Cape
2015 Taunting Gravity - Imbizo Gallery, Hoedspruit, S.A.
2012 Exposure - Riverbend Art & Wine Gallery, KZN, S.A.
Selected Collections
MHold Properties (Pty) Ltd, Rustenberg, South Africa
NGL Attorneys, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Private Collections:
Netherlands, Belgium, Britain, Wales, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Florida, Los Angeles, Colorado, America, Canada, Russia, France & South Africa, Denmark, Portugal, Australia & Hong Kong.
Pieces are available at:
(Click on the names below to link you to the galleries' websites)
CAPE:
Môi Art Gallery - Riebeek Kasteel, West Coast
Art@Africa Gallery – V&A Waterfront in Cape Town
Asara Wine Estate, Hotel & Art Gallery - Stellenbosch, Western Cape
Fine Art Africa Gallery - Hout Bay, Cape Town
Gallop Hill Gallery - Franschhoek, Hermanus & Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape
Palette Fine Art Gallery - Cape Town & Franschhoek
Rossouw Modern - Hermanus, Western Cape
Benguela Cove Gallery - Hermanus, Western Cape
Art@Cornerstone - Hoekville, Western Cape
St Francis Bay Gallery - St Francis Bay, Eastern Cape
KWAZULU NATAL:
Riverbend Art & Wine Gallery - KZN Southbroom
Pencil Art Foundation - Umhlanga, KZN
The Gallery Lifestyle, Ballito, KZN
The Platform Art Gallery - Lions River, KZN Midlands
FREE STATE:
Blou Donki - Clarens, Free State
MPUMALANGA:
Dimitrov Gallery - Dullstroom
WESTERN PROVINCE:
Marke Meyer @ Hartebeestpoort - De Handelspos Sentrum - Hartebeestpoort
GAUTENG:
Julie Miller African Contemporary - Randburg
The Candice Berman Gallery - Johannesburg
The Showroom Art Gallery - Pretoria
St Lorient Art Gallery - Pretoria
WESTERN PROVINCE:
BELGIUM:
Annemarie Durnez Interior Designer & Gallery- Belgium
All quality castings by:
Pro Art Bronze Foundry - White River, Mpumalanga
&
Bronz Editions - Western Cape
Chroming by:
Coating Graphics - Centurion, Gauteng