I love books and bubblegum

Maureen Visagé

Maureen Visagé, a South African artist based in Cape Town, possesses an unwavering passion for creating art. She employs bright colours and bold strokes to create unique, whimsical figurines in ceramic and bronze. Her work is a celebration of love, joy, feminine strength, and the inherent beauty of life itself. Maureen’s journey into art began at a young age which led her to attend the Pretoria Art Music and Ballet School (Pro Arté), where she excelled both academically and artistically. Her artistic focus was painting, puppetry and sculpture.

Also harbouring a great love of numbers, and natural talent for mathematics, she made the decision to move to Cape Town to study Actuarial Science. Throughout her studies at the University of Cape Town, her love for creating art remained steadfast. After qualifying as an actuary and working in London for a few years, she returned to South Africa, joined a ceramic studio and embarked on a new a journey into sculpting in ceramic clay.

Since 2011, Maureen has dedicated herself entirely to creating art, enabling her to wholeheartedly embrace her artistic calling. This transition marked a pivotal moment in her life, fulfilling her dream of working as an artist full time. Using ceramic clay as her preferred medium, she has built an impressive body of work.

In 2018 she expanded her repertoire to include the medium of bronze, releasing limited editions of her beloved figurines in this medium.

Maureen finds inspiration within everyday life. With elements of quiet contemplation, nostalgia, and a lot of character, her work, whilst fun and quirky, evokes a sense of familiarity, depth, and emotional resonance. She also loves to go beyond the ordinary, delving into the realms of fairy tales, religious images, and mythical themes. With clever combinations she creates compositions that are reminiscent of traditional European porcelain figurines but with a hand-built quality and a playful African twist.

This creative fusion invites the viewer to explore layers of interpretation and emotion and can be found in her work. Her creations bear witness to her imagination, attention to detail and her remarkable ability to breathe life into clay. Each piece tells a unique story, and we invite you to experience the beauty and boundless creativity that emanates from her skilled hands.

Maureen Visagé’s  work is currently available from The Artists Gallery in Cape Town and since 2019 she has been an integral part of The Travelling Art Gallery .