‘Art is the agent best equipped to bring light to the world. That is its purpose. That is its promise.’
— Nick Cave

Nicola Bouwer, Johannesburg artist, in the studio. Contemporary collage and oil painter.

I like to make things—it's playful, childlike, and a bit of a meander. I like to photograph things too. And mostly, I like to potter around beautiful stuff and see where it all takes me.

Hi, I’m Nicola, a Johannesburg-based South African artist, trying to tell stories through collage, photography, painting, and sketches.

Creativity has always been there. I never formally studied art, but being creative isn’t something you learn—it’s just who you are. It’s how you see the world, how you move through it.

Ghost Chairs 1, oil painting by Nicola Bouwer. 42x30cm, unframed.
Plunge, contemporary analogue collage by Nicola Bouwer. A4, unframed.

Photos are my starting point. I used to carry a camera, now it’s just my iPhone. I’m drawn to simple spaces—a lone chair, a flimsy curtain, a crumbling wall. Then add flowers, Japanese aesthetics, architecture, and graphic design magazines, and you get a hodgepodge of inspiration.

For now, I’ve settled on painting and paper work. Oil painting, with all its smooshy messiness, appeals—the way paint can be applied and then rubbed away. It’s a play of light and dark, always searching for that in-between space.

Lately, I’ve been exploring collage—the way found images come together to create new stories and unexpected narratives, like puzzle pieces clicking into place. This process helps me uncover new meanings and connections.

Please feel free to reach out with any inquiries, commissions, or thoughts regarding my work. I welcome the opportunity to connect.

2025   

March: ​​August House Salon Vanguard, Group Exhibition, JHB 

2024   

November: ‘Reclaimed’ Collage, Group Exhibition, CT

May: ​​​Kalk Bay Modern, CT: Art on PaperXV

2023    

July: ​​​Redhill School Art’s Festival, Group Exhibition, JHB

2022    

May: ​Turbine Art Fair @ Design JHB, Sandton Convention Centre, Turbine Art Fair @ Open Studio’s, Victoria Yards, JHB

July: ​​​Turbine Art Fair Underground @ Oxford Parks, JHB

September: ​​Bag Factory Summer Salon Group Exhibition, JHB

October: ​​August House Open Studio’s, Group Exhibition, JHB

2021    

November: ​​Yards of Art Group Exhibition, Victoria Yards, JHB

September:​​ JHB Fringe Group Exhibition, The Art Room, Parkhurst

2020​    

November:​​ Online exhibition for The Fine Arts Workshop

2019​​     

November: ​Bag Factory Summer Salon Group Exhibition, JHB

November:​​ Fine Art Print Fair Pop Up Exhibition, JHB

May: ​Bag Factory Winter Salon Group Exhibition, JHB

Selected Exhibitions

  • Nicola Bouwer’s work is radiant and rich. When I view Bouwer’s work, it clearly stands out. Her ability to tell a story with the least amount of subject on the canvas is unparalleled. A single chair against an identified background says so much. Bouwer has the ability to move you to tears with only a single chair. I’m a proud collector of her work. I am thrilled to witness her artistic journey and can’t wait to see where she will go…and take me with her.

    Yasser Bagersh

  • 'I love my art pieces from Nicola🩷. And they make me especially happy because I know they are hers.'

    Suzanne Stevens

  • This little wonderful artwork now belongs to me! I’m so proud to offer it a new home and be its caretaker! '

    Lisa Younger

  • I don't have any abstract art in my house. It isn't that I don't appreciate abstract art - I just couldn't find pieces that I felt comfortable living with. This triptych by Nicola Bouwer was the perfect option for me: architectural, modern and fresh, but at home in my home.

    Zelda Pringle

  • I am lucky to have one of Nicola’s atmospheric paintings in my hallway. It is serene and moody, taking you to a quieter place every time you walk past.

    Robyn Shamu

  • I have known Nicola for many years, and although I am no expert, her growth as an artist has been sublime and a wonder to watch. Nicola’s style is relatable, and her pictures take pride of place in our home.

    Mark Hele

  • I have been privileged to be able to purchase three art pieces from Nicola. I saw them at one of her exhibitions and they struck me as being unique and creative. It is a collage series and the three art works together tell a beautiful story. I love the way Nicola expresses her creative ideas through different mediums and the artworks speak their own unique language! List Item

    Ingrid Sellschop

  • The scene in this painting was a day of thick late winter mist in Dullstroom. The wet conditions caused the oranges of the terrain and yellow grass to pop out through the clouds. With Alan fishing in the distance, Nicola so successfully captured this stunning vista. I love this piece. Thank you.

    Jen Bedford-Shaw