AITY GALLERY
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY & STATEMENT
TARIEN BRUWER (b.1991)
Artist Biography
Tarien Bruwer is a South African abstract artist and designer based in the Robertson Wine Valley.
Her artistic practice centers around the exploration of pattern, texture, and color, often employing textiles such as cotton, polyester, and wool to create intricate weaves on canvas. Drawing from a rich heritage of female weavers in her family, Bruwer’s work is deeply autobiographical, reflecting her personal experiences, emotions, and memories.Her art process is intuitive, allowing chance and serendipitous color harmonies to emerge naturally. This intuitive, meditative practice has served as a form of healing, helping her navigate life’s complexities and embrace her sensitivity as a strength.Tarien holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities (Psychology and Visual Studies) from Stellenbosch University and a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Visual Communication from AAA School of Advertising, Cape Town. After working in Cape Town’s creative and fashion industries, she returned to her rural roots, where she continues her artistic practice while balancing life as a mother.
Artist Statement
“My art has always been a way of metabolizing life and its emotional depth. As a highly sensitive being, I use my work to process emotions and experiences, using my hands as a tool for remembrance. My process is intuitive, often more like a resting practice than labor, and the colors and patterns that emerge energize me. This meditative act of weaving soothes my nervous system and brings me into balance.”
About Her Work
Bruwer’s works are a celebration of tactile textures and bold graphics, rooted in her multidisciplinary background. The use of threads and textiles connects her with the women who came before her, making her work a tribute to the power of ancestral craft and storytelling. She is inspired by the writings of Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, particularly the struggles of modern women, and her art acts as a gentle rebellion against the pressures of contemporary life.
Her recent exhibitions include Tonal Tapestries (AITY Gallery, Franschhoek, 2023) and You Are Here (Hugo Modern, Cape Town, 2024), as well as showcasing at Decorex in Cape Town and Johannesburg in 2022.
G R O U P S H O W S
2021 In A Fine Flow, GalleryOne11, Curated by Hugo Modern, Cape Town
2021 Got Junk, The Fourth, Cape Town
2021 Small Worlds, GalleryOne11, Cape Town
2022 Death Row Dinner, The Fourth, Cape Town
2022 Decorex CPT: 100% Weave Exhibition, Cape Town
2022 Decorex JHB: 100% Weave Exhibition, Sandton, Johannesburg
2022 She Had A Dream, Café Imagination, Randsteam, Johannesburg
2023 Tonal Tapestries, AITY Gallery, Franschhoek
2024 You Are Here, Hugo Modern, Welgemoed, Cape Town
AITY GALLERY
www.aitygallery.com