About Us
South African Contemporary oil painting born in Cape Town and now resides in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)
Artists Statement
At Glodina van Zyl’s Art Studio original oil paintings are produced for the local and global art collectors. Her work is infused with traditional and contemporary aspects of South African culture especially the Western and Eastern Cape.
Her artworks appeal to collectors and home dĂ©cor enthusiasts, who want to bring beauty and a sense of peace into their world. Her value proposition is undeniably her unique blend of impressionistic charm with contemporary and modern elements, often depicting natural subjects, visionary South African landscapes and emotive portraits inspired by South African’s diverse people and nostalgia.
She is inspired to create beauty out of chaos and to evoke emotions through her expressive portraits and visionary landscapes. Her connection to her roots is evident in her choice of subjects, including local flora, fauna and landscapes as Knysna Forest and Table Mountain. This contextual grounding enriches her work and invites the viewers to appreciate the natural beauty of their own surroundings..
For her art has become an invigorating, integral part of her life presenting a multitude of irresistible challenges, As a self-taught artist and certified life-time student in this school of life, she continues to hone her skills in art, business and leadership. When painting she employs various techniques that gives each art piece its unique character and a “life” of its own. The painting is not rushed but allowed to organically evolve.
Exhibitions:
June 2026 – Nineteen 33 Winter Exhibition
Feb 2026 – Nineteen 33 Art in Motion
Aug 2025 – Nineteen 33 Art and Poetry
Online Galleries
South African Artists.com
Art Online
Foundmyself
Artist’s journey
Born in Athlone .Cape Town her earliest memories of art involve sitting on the floor in front of the gramophone while sketching . Overhead hung two huge photographic prints ie. one of horses and another of a trawler boat. This provided the earliest inspiration .Born to a “tough cookie” of a  single mother who struggled with depression , her child hood was embedded in instability and frequent relocation , Van Zyl developed an early awareness of struggle and endurance but also loved adapting to new environments.
These formative experiences ,together with a profound sense of spirituality , became anchors through years of her own personal strife. Having to support her family , a career in art did not even appear on her radar. She pursued a career as a chemical engineer and currently works as a process auditing supervisor and together with her supportive husband and 5 dogs now call PE home. .
She met her paternal family late in life and after the passing of her dad , she discovered a renewed love for painting. With the loss of her mother to cancer, her artistic voice has continued to deepen . Painting had a restorative ,healing and calming effect and awakened her spirit.
Glodina van Zyl Art Studio offers more than visual expression; the art presents a contemplative record of perseverance and evolution. Her paintings invite viewers into a space where vulnerability is met with dignity, and where color becomes a vehicle for emotional truth.