Vanessa Berlein
Vanessa studied Fine Art at Natal Technikon, South Africa, majoring in painting.
Since 1987, she has worked full time as a Fine Artist, predominantly working in paint medium, although has experimented in photography, print medium and sculpture.
Up until 1997, she concentrated on mastering the techniques of the Renaissance artists, the Old Dutch Masters and the Pre Raphaelites, other strong influences were Otto Dix and ODD Nerdrum. During this period she produced mostly figurative work loaded with traditional symbolism.
After viewing an exhibition of Mark Rothko’s in London in 1998, she began to experiment with abstract images, concentrating on the effects of colour, light and various mediums, such as beeswax, industrial varnishes, building materials and metal leaf. Her biggest influences at present are Mark Rothko, Alberto Burri and Odd Nerdrum.
Her artworks are to be found in collections both locally and internationally, (USA, France, UK, Germany, Canada and SA).
She has curated and exhibited in numerous exhibitions in USA and Sa and currently lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa.
Vanessa Berlein is a published poet and was nominated for “Poet of the Year†award by the American National Library of Poets in 2000, she was also offered publication of a volume of poems and a childrens story, together with illustrations, by Minerva Press in 2001.
Her other major interest is music, and she has recorded as a vocalist in the USA and SA. She is currently developing material for an eventual CD release.
