After shaping young minds for decades, a Swartland artist is now shaping art in clay, stone, bronze and paint.
Moorreesburg may be famed for wheat fields, but it also produced Maré Louise Smit, whose hands appear congenitally incapable of idleness.
Her story starts sensibly enough. First Denneoord Teachers College in Stellenbosch, then Ruth Prowse Art School in Cape Town. A good combo: teaching and art. She married local farmer Jannie in 1980 and promptly began dividing her time between giving pottery classes and the local primary school, where she taught for 26 years. Generations of Moorreesburg kids owe her not only their handwriting but also their first blob of clay that vaguely resembled an animal.
Retirement in 2016 merely meant a new chapter—painting classes for children and adults alike.
A MEDLEY OF MATERIALS
Though best-known as a sculptor and potter, Maré Louise has never confined herself to a single medium. Stone, wood, resin, bronze, papier-mâché—all have been pressed into service. Recently she’s dived headlong into abstract painting, exploring colour and mark-making. She cheerfully described her work as ‘psychological tension’.
Her output hasn’t gone unnoticed. Exhibitions—both solo and collective—have followed, with her work now residing in private collections across South Africa and Europe. Visitors to Pringle Bay will also discover her pieces at the famed Fomo Fine Art Gallery, a delightful setting where sculptures stand among fynbos and glassworks sparkle indoors.
BRUSHES DOWN, CHISELS UP
In 2019, Maré Louise turned her attention wholly to art—moving between sculpture and painting with the ease of one alternating between golf and croquet. ‘Sculpting is hard work,’ she said. ‘So this year I’ve taken a sabbatical, but I’ll be back with a bang in 2026.’
From classrooms to clay, from bronzes to bold brushstrokes, this artist has built a life powered by restless creativity. Even her downtime is industrious. If she’s not painting, she’s baking. Or knitting. Or both. Frankly, if idleness were ever declared a crime, she’d have a watertight alibi.
FAST FACTS
My spectator sport of choice is swimming & Springbok rugby
The best West Coast destination is Langebaan
My favourite West Coast restaurant is Pearly’s in Langebaan
I love eating seafood
My signature drink is red wine
I enjoy reading faction
On TV, I like watching Afrikaans ‘soapies’
