Antoine De Villiers

My earliest memories and interests have been of art and creation. For many years I spent hours exploring my thoughts in journals until I discovered that paint allows me the freedom to articulate my ideas and feelings more clearly than by pen and paper.

In my work I seek to complement the moments I encounter. I attempt breaking down life to its visual essentials - light, dark, balance, movement, tone - and in so doing, perhaps show another perspective. I enjoy capturing the essence of a moment, also "story" by diversity of color and pattern that the eye or camera is unable to see. If somebody, while looking at my artwork, get that special feeling of something personal, I'm satisfied.

Often I don't feel the need to capture everything exactly as it exists in reality. Rather appreciate space and form from an imaginative, spiritual and non-realistic perspective while capturing the things that leave an impression on my heart and mind. To me abstraction and true representation are not so different, and that is why I paint not only objects, but also its spirit. This is perhaps the most personal, emotional and thought-provoking form of art.

The canvas is my playground of words and some of my writing is here, it is my art, it is what I have to offer.

2002: LondonArt, London, United Kingdom.
2001: Jaarsma Gallery, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Lewis Gallery, Lewis, United Kingdom.
2000: Jaarsma Gallery, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
1999: Jaarsma Gallery, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
1998: Annual Interior Exhibition, George, South Africa.
1997: Jaarsma Gallery, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
In Fin Art, Cape Town, South Africa.
1996: Standard Bank National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, South Africa.
Pablo's Gallery, Somerset West, South Africa.
1995: Spring Show, Potchefstroom, South Africa.

RSI Artist of year 1997, Honours 1994 1995

2002: Mook, Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom.

2001: Aardklop, National Arts Festival, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
The Bail Shop, Klerksdorp, South Africa.

2000: Aardklop, National Arts Festival, Potchefstroom, South Africa.

1999: Exchange, Melville, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Aardklop, National Arts Festival, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
'Piece with white', Dada, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
1998: Aardklop, National Arts Festival, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Mooivallei Gallery, Potchefstroom, South Africa.

1997: Dada, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Standard Bank National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, South Africa.

One of life’s travelers and blessed with an artist’s soul, Antoine works in various mediums and styles. Yet, there is always something quintessential of her throughout the core of her work, like a wick in a candle drawing her creations out.

Originally from a small town in the northern part of South Africa, she got stuck into art at an early age making colorful messes in her parent’s home. Despite idyllic beginnings, Antoine didn’t plan on becoming an artist. During her final year in school she planned to study psychology but it was a devastating motorcycle accident that changed her course to art as she desperately needed an outlet.

Antoine does not have a conventional education nor a conventional life. She started studying B.A. Graphic Communication but in frustration got on a plane to backpack Europe and the UK. She earned her way forward bathing the disabled and doing marketing on the street corners of London. She found the hours in Tate Modern or the Louvre more stimulating than graphic communication. She earned her Web Design Diploma (was awarded ‘Student of the year’) from Boston Business College before expanding her horizons to a new continent. This time the US. In the following years Antoine extensively traveled 46 states as well as Canada and Mexico. She studied Marble Sculpting in Colorado and Yoga in Illinois while exhibiting her work in numerous shows throughout the UK, US and South Africa.

In 2014 Antoine moved to India where she lived for 5 years while exploring south Asia and studying what interested her, first Photography and Reiki in Delhi and then Indian Art, Visual Art and Modern Art through Oxford Continued Education. In India she taught art to the marginalized women and children of India’s underworld –from the brothels of Old Delhi to Maharashtra’s slums.

Today Antoine lives with her husband and two boys in Savannah, Georgia. She is a veteran of over seventy exhibitions across the globe. Her work has received numerous awards including best figurative artist by the Richmond Art Museum, Indiana. Best Solo Artist by Eric Smith at the New York Art Expo and first place in Figurative Painting by Pamela Jean Tinnen from Artrepreneur.