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Photo by James Fox

PROFILE

BIOGRAPHY

THROUGH AN ABIDING INTEREST IN TRANSLATING PHOTOGRAPHIC AND VIDEO IMAGERY INTO PAINT MARKS, DE JAGER EXAMINES THE LIMINAL SPACES OF OUR LIVES.

THESE EXPLORATIONS TRAVERSE THE LANDSCAPES OF THE DOMESTIC, MOTHERHOOD, IDENTITY FORMATION, MENTAL HEALTH AND THE VAST, YET CLOISTERED, DIGITAL WORLD.

Ronél de Jager (b. 1985 South Africa) is a multidisciplinary artist renowned for her oil paintings on canvas. Her work delves into the hybrid nature of contemporary life and the disintegrating boundaries between the digital and physical realms. Through an enduring fascination with translating photographic and video imagery into paint marks, De Jager explores the liminal spaces that permeate our lives. These explorations traverse the landscapes of domesticity, motherhood, identity formation, mental health, and the vast yet confined digital world.

 

De Jager also works in photography, multimedia, sculpture and installation. Her recent large scale beaded tapestries explore new frontiers in her conceptual framework, opening up new ways to understand the real vs digital experience. They utilize a complex and painstaking process of colour separation, dismantling colours into individual beads like pixels, and then reconstituting them within a large-scale format. 

 

In an increasingly screen-dominated environment, De Jager’s work is often only visible in its entirety with the assistance of a digital device. This reliance on digital technology is evident even at the beginning of her process, where she digitally deconstructs online images of bouquets before reconstructing and transforming them onto canvas. Her process mirrors the constant shift of navigating between the online and offline realms, the real and the digital - from image to digital distortion, from thumbnail to enlargement, from micro to macro, and from zooming in to intense focus on surface details.

 

De Jager’s work resonates with the 17th Century Dutch Golden Age of painting, both technically and conceptually. The use of chiaroscuro and delicate brushwork serves to interrogate notions of vanitas—the decay that inevitably occurs over time. The ‘melting bouquet’ motif in her works dissolves into cascades of blurred and dragged paint marks, akin to a beautifully tragic entropy unfolding before the viewer’s eyes.

 

Throughout her oeuvre, transience is the constant, and change serves as the leitmotif, both conceptually and formally. Her works demonstrate the continuous transformation that every form undergoes and reflect on the eternal processes of becoming and passing away. In this regard, she resonates with philosopher and sociologist Georg Simmel, who posits that “By ‘nature’, we mean the endless connection of things, the uninterrupted production and negation of forms, the flowing unity of occurrence that is expressed in the continuity of temporal and spatial existence. Matter, every kind of material, is constantly in a process of transformation."

Her solo exhibition, STILL HERE (2022 at Kalashnikovv Gallery, Johannesburg) took the traditionally domestic and feminine genre of floral arrangements as a starting point. Using digital tools De Jager manipulated found images and then rendered them in deft brush strokes, revealing intimate connections between what we see through our digital filters and our increasingly turbid emotional and mental landscapes. These works are centred around a single image of a bouquet, isolated on each canvas; however, the rendering of these floral arrangements is anything but traditional.

 

As critic Ashraf Jamal wrote: “De Jager’s blurred, filigreed canvases evoke the ornamental, then erase it [...] To my mind, it suggests an artwork that is more impressionistic than realistic, the art of someone drawn to miasmas – visualised worlds that quake and tremble in the face of certainty.”

De Jager presented her second solo exhibition, Broeigrond: Fertile Ground of Golden Regrets, at the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, in 2015 and subsequently received the KANNA Award for Best Achievement in Visual Arts for this presentation.

 

Previous solo exhibitions includes a three-part multimedia solo exhibition spanning over three locations: first A Prelude at Room Gallery in Braamfontein, in Johannesburg; followed by An Interlude a featured installation at The Turbine Hall as part of the Turbine Art Fair, in Newtown, Johannesburg, both in 2014; with the final iteration of her solo showcase AM After Midnight presented Lizamore & Associated Gallery, Johannesburg, in 2015. 

De Jager has participated in numerous group exhibitions and presentations, most recently Art Rotterdam with Kumalo | Turpin Gallery, at Rotterdam Ahoy, Netherlands, in 2026. Art Fairs include; Investec Cape Town Art Fair at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in Cape Town, RMB Latitudes Art Fair at Shepstone Gardens in Johannesburg and FNB Art Joburg at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 2022 to 2026, with Kalashnikovv and Kumalo | Turpin Galleries. 

 

Most notably, her beaded work Ignore Limit (2026) has recently been included in the ten-month Matereality II exhibition at Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town, curated by Andrea Lewis, from 2026 to 2027. She also participated in Toward the Foundation Department 0.1 presented by Kumalo | Turpin alongside Stevenson and Gallery MOMO at the Latitudes Centre for the Arts, as well as Gender/Genre at Kumalo | Turpin Gallery, at Nine Yards, Johannesburg, all in 2026. 

 

Other group exhibitions include Inter-Opsia at Kalashnikovv Gallery in Johannesburg; The Un-Turning Wheel at Latitudes Centre for the Arts in Johannesburg; and Refuse the Given World at Kalashnikovv Gallery in Cape Town, South Africa, all in 2024; Loud and Clear at SMAC Gallery in Cape Town, South Africa; and Bagfactory: Reflections at the Bagfactory Artists’ Residencies in Newtown, Johannesburg, South Africa, both in 2023; Reshape22:Future Art Histories at Latitudes Centre for the Arts in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2022; and Thread(ed) Interlacing Women in the 21st Century, curated by Dr Adéle Adendorf & Georgina Glass at the Association of Arts, Pretoria as well as In Conversation with Colour Symphony, at Rupert Museum, South Africa,  in 2021. In 2020, she participated in Vanishing Act at the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, in Oudtshoorn, South Africa and as well as The Pandemic Project, an interdisciplinary group exhibition hosted by University of Johannesburg Art Gallery. Earlier collaborative group exhibitions include MYOPIA with Mandy Coppes-Martin and Sacred and Profane both hosted by Lizamore & Associates Gallery, in Johannesburg, both in 2017

 

Collaborative projects include the beaded artwork All that Glitters...is Glass (2022), in collaboration with Cape Town based Qaqambile Bead Studio; as well the sculptural installation Citizen of Glass (2017), in collaboration with Ngwenya Glass, in Eswatini. 

 

Her work has been included in numerous public and private collections, both locally and internationally, including the South African National Library Public Art Collection, ABSA, Hollard South Africa and Hollard Australia, First Rand Limited, Rand Merchant Bank, in the collections of Nando's South Africa, Malaysia and United Kingdom, Spier Arts Trust, Telkom South Africa, Sasol Limited, as well as in private collections globally, in South Africa, The Netherlands,  the United Kingdom, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Mauritius, Australia, Brazil, and the United States.

CV

CV

SOLO EXHIBITIONS //

PROJECTS

2022

STILL HERE, Solo Exhibition presented by Kalashnikovv Gallery, Braamfontein, Johannesburg

2017

BROEIGROND: Fertile Ground for Golden RegretsSolo Exhibition (KANNA Award) KKNK Main Visual Arts programme, Oudsthoorn

2015

AM (AFTER MIDNIGHT), Multimedia Solo Exhibition (final in a three part series), Lizamore & Associates Gallery, Johannesburg

2014

AN INTERLUDE, Featured Multimedia Installation (second in a three part series), Turbine Art Fair, Johannesburg

A PRELUDE, Multimedia Installation (first in a three part series), ROOM Gallery & Projects, Braamfontein, Johannesburg

A DISCORD, Interactive Performance in association with Site Specific, Johannesburg

2009

123 BLOKMYSELF!, Gordart Gallery Project Room, Johannesburg

ART FAIRS

ART ROTTERDAM, presented by Kumalo | Turpin, Rotterdam Ahoy, Netherlands – 2026

FNB Art Joburg, presented by Kumalo | Turpin, Sandton Convention Centre – 2025, 2026

RMB Latitudes Art Fair, presented by Kumalo | Turpin, Shepstone Gardens, Johannesburg – 2026

Investec Cape Town Art Fair, presented by Kumalo | Turpin, Cape Town Convention Centre – 2026

100% Design Johannesburg, presented by Kalashnikovv Gallery, Sandton Convention Centre – 2024, 2025

RMB Latitudes Art Fair, presented by Kalashnikovv Gallery, Shepstone Gardens, Johannesburg – 2023, 2024, 2025

Investec Cape Town Art Fair, presented by Kalashnikovv Gallery, Cape Town Convention Centre – 2022, 2024, 2025

FNB Art Joburg, presented by Kalashnikovv Gallery, Sandton Convention Centre – 2022, 2023, 2024

Turbine Art Fair, presented by Kalashnikovv Gallery, Johannesburg – 2021, 2022

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2026

Matereality II, Curated by Andrea Lewis, Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town

Gender/Genre, Inaugural exhibition by Kumalo | Turpin Gallery, Nine Yards, Johannesburg

Toward the Foundation: Department 0.1, presented by Kumalo | Turpin Gallery, Latitudes Centre for the Arts, Johannesburg

2024

INTER-OPSIA, Kalashnikovv Gallery, Parkhurst, Johannesburg

Refuse the Given World, Kalashnikovv Gallery, Cape Town

The Un-turning Wheel, Kalashnikovv Gallery x Latitudes Online, Latitudes Centre for the Arts, Johannesburg

Summer Show, La Motte Ateljee, Franschhoek, Cape Town

2023

LOUD AND CLEAR, SMAC Gallery, Cape Town

I Never Promised You A Rose Garden, Cavalli Gallery, Cape Town

Free Form, Kalashnikovv Gallery, Parkhurst, Johannesburg

Bagfactory: Reflections, Bagfactory Artists' Studios, Newtown, Johannesburg

2022

Reshape. Future Art Histories, Presented by Latitudes Online

2021

Thread(ed) Interlacing Womxn in the 21st Century, Curated by Dr Adéle Adendorf & Georgina Glass, AOA, Pretoria

Winter Group Show, Kalashnikovv Gallery, Braamfontein, Johannesburg

Paint. Verf. Curated by Johan Myburg, KKNK National Arts Festival, Online

In Conversation with Colour Symphony, Hosted by Rupert Museum, Graaff-Reinet

2020

ABSA ArtworksABSA Gallery, Online

ABSA Art Hot Spot, Auction hosted by ABSA & Aspire Art Auctions, Online

The Pandemic, Interdisciplinary Project curated by Annali Dempsey,  University of Johannesburg Art Gallery 

Vanishing Act, Curated by Suen Muller, KKNK National Arts Festival, Online

Knowingly Waisting Time, Painting group exhibition, No End Contemporary, Johannesburg 

She Impressions, All female group exhibition, The Project Space, Victoria Yards, Johannesburg

2019

Lost & Found, Curated by Candice Allison, Bag Factory Artist’s Studios, Johannesburg

Countershading, Art on Avenues Gallery, Somerset West

Murmurs of Earth, Art on Avenues Gallery, Somerset West

Collecting Contemporary, Curated by Teresa Lizamore, KKNK Festival, Oudtshoorn

Muurblom, US Woordfees, Stellenbosch

2018

New Romantics, Curated by Mary Corrigall, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town

Nano 1.2, Curated by Alastair Whitton, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town

Paint it Forward, Curated by Lucia Boer, ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg

Bag Factory Annual Salon, Bagfactory Artists Studios, Johannesburg

2017

MYOPIA, Collaborative exhibition with Mandy Coppes-Martin, Lizamore & Associates Gallery, Johannesburg

Dead and Dreaming: Still Life, Painting exhibition curated by Wayne Matthews, Priest Gallery, Johannesburg

Lady Garden, Cavalli Gallery, Somerset West, Cape Town

TrailblazersLizamore & Associates Gallery, Johannesburg

Material Consequences, Womxn exhibition presented by RMB, Merchant Place, Johannesburg

Sacred & Profane, Collaborative exhibition with Dirk Bahmann, Stephan Erasmus, Mandy Johnston, Wayne Mathews & Neil Nieuwoudt, Lizamore & Associates Gallery, Johannesburg

See Art, Gallery 2, Johannesburg

2Y2K, Curated by Rebecca Haysom, Twilsharp Studios, Johannesburg

35 Years Lizamore, Lizamore & Associates Gallery, Johannesburg

2016

For What It's Worth, No End Contemporary Art Space, Johannesburg

#Selfie, Lizamore & Associates Gallery, Johannesburg

Spaces Between Maps, Curated by Stephan Erasmus, KKNK Festival, ABSA Gallery, Oudtshoorn

Fifteen Hundred, No End Contemporary, Johannesburg

Stellar, Salon 91 Contemporary Gallery, Cape Town

Office Party, Curated by Rebecca Haysom, Twilsharp Studios, Johannesburg

2015

Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream, Curated by Layla Leiman, Twilsharp studios, Johannesburg

We're Not in Kansas Anymore, Presented by George Bizos fund, Sahethi School, Johannesburg

Joburg Fringe, Presented by Dead Bunny Society as part of Art Week Joburg, Arts on Main, Johannesburg 

Cultivate, Curated by Kevin Handelsman & Kim Lieberman, King David's School, Johannesburg 

Winter is Coming, Equus Gallery, Cavalli Estate, Somerset West

Macabre, Curated by Dead Bunny Society, Under Culture Contemporary, Port Elizabeth

2013

Interrupted, Curated by Annali Cabano-Dempsey, University of Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg

No Place Like Now, Curated by Emma Willemse & Tamzin Lovell, Lovell Gallery, Cape Town

AWARDS // 

RESIDENCIES

Bag Factory Artists’ Studio Residency, Newtown, Johannesburg (2019/2020)

KANNA Award, Best Achievement in Visual Arts for this presentation, KKNK National Arts Festival (2017)

ABSA L’Atelier, Top 100 Finalist (2015, 2013, 2008)

Thami Mnyele Fine Art Awards, Top 100 Finalist (2016, 2015, 2013, 2011)

Sasol New Signatures, Top 100 Finalist (2013, 2010, 2008)

MTN Art Foundation Award (2003)

COLLECTIONS

South African National Library Public Art Collection

ABSA

Hollard – Australia & South Africa

First Rand Limited

Rand Merchant Bank

Nando's – South Africa, Malaysia & UK

Spier Arts Trust

Telkom SA

Sasol Limited

Various private collections globally (Italy, Spain, Germany, Mauritius, Switzerland, UK, Australia, USA São Paulo amongst others)

COMMISSIONS //

PERMANENT INSTALLATIONS

First Rand Limited: Citizen of Glass installation, Commissioned for CEO Offices, Merchant Place, Sandton, Johannesburg – 2018

Hollard SA: Permanent installation of Citizen of Glass: Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn & Mercury, housed at The Pines, Parktown, Johannesburg – 2017

Nando’s UK: Veil II – 2020

Edgars & VMLYR: Commissioned Painting, Unravel – 2020

South African Government: Official Nelson Mandela Funeral Portrait, assisted commissioned artist Usha Seejarim – 2013

PRESS

FNB ART JOBURG – ‘Artist of Interest'. Feature by Zaza Hlalethwa, 14th July 2022

Artthrob – ‘Elegant Inscrutability'. Review by Ashraf Jamal, 7th July 2022

Netwerk24 / Media 24 – ‘Resensie - 'Still here'. Review by Johan Myburg , June 2022

Habitat Magazine – ‘Melding the Mirror of Scientific Observation'. Interview by Emilie Froment, June 2022

Classic Feel – ‘UJ ARTS & CULTURE RESPONDS TO THE COVID-19 CRISIS'. Article, June 2020

Art Africa – ‘New Romantics’. Review by Ellen Agnew, February 2018

Business Day – ‘Artwork as a new romance rooted in nature’s magic’. Article by Mary Corrigall, January 2018

Cape Times – ‘Romantics Fixated on Capturing New World’. Article by Mary Corrigall, February 2018

Beeld – 'Betekenis lê tussen die heilige en onheilige'. Review by Johan Myburg, August 2017

The Star – 'Hopping Into the Great Unknown'. Review by Mary Corrigall, August 2017

Maroela Media – 'Broeigrond Wins Kanna Award', May 2017

RSG Kuns – 'Broeigrond Exhibition'. Radio Interview with Christelle Webb-Joubert, April 2017

Bravo! kyknet – 'Kanna Award Winners announced at Nasdak, CT',  May 2017

Vrouekeur – 'Kuns Uit Eie Bodem'. Feature by Johan Myburg, June 2016

The Citizen – 'Escape The Noise'. Article by Adriaan Roets, May 2016

ELLE Décor – ‘Finding the Black hole’ artwork feature in Inspiration section, April 2016

Finweek – 'How to Pick a Winning Artist'. Article by Johan Myburg, January 2016

Visi.co.za – 'Broken Monsters Cape Town Exhibition', January 2016

Contemporary And – 'Last Night I had the Strangest Dream' artwork feature, July 2015

Barclays L'Atelier – 'Top 100 finalists', March 2015

Business Day – 'Insights via unconventional ways of perceiving the world'. Feature by Chris Thurman, February 2015

RSG Kuns – 'AM After Midnight Exhibition'. Radio Interview with Christelle Webb-Joubert, February 2015

Artslink – 'The Fleeting Nature of Light and Shadow', January 2015

DEKAT TV. Kyknet – Rolanda Marias interviews De Jager at her studio, October 2014

Grolsch Canvas – ‘Words Can’t Express What the Eye Sees’. July 2014

Saturday Citizen – ‘A Moment’s Silence’. Article by Genevieve Veira, June 2014

Business Day – ‘Tricks of Light and Shade are elegiac’ Article by Chris Thurman. June 2014

RSG Kuns – ‘A Prelude Exhibition'. Radio Interview with Christelle Webb-Joubert. February 2014

Joburg City Buzz – 'Pushing boundaries with featured multimedia elements'. Article by Khanyisile Ngcobo. June 2014

Artthrob – ‘A Prelude opens at Room Gallery & Projects’. March 2014

PRESS
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