Muse III

Talitha Deetlefs

Talitha Deetlefs is a South African artist whose work is dedicated to the human body as a storyteller. Through her sculptures, she explores how we embody both personal and collective histories—particularly those tied to identity, social conditioning, and selfperception. Deetlefs is fascinated by the multiplicity of human existence, especially the contradictions within the psyche—the coexistence of what is conscious and unconscious, shaping our lives through layered, often conflicting narratives.

Talitha Deetlefs’s primary focus is the female form, capturing its strength, sensuality, and sensitivity while questioning how societal structures influence the development of identity. Her work examines how social constructs can obscure authentic selfhood and how, through self-awareness, one might begin to challenge these inherited norms. In her sculptures, figures may appear poised and confident, yet are wrapped in tight bands—symbolizing the tension between power and submission. A woman, conditioned by her upbringing or culture, may unknowingly suppress her true strength, bound by inherited beliefs. Her work invites viewers to reflect on these internal tensions and contradictions within themselves.

Talitha Deetlefs’s creative process is deeply intuitive. She begins with an original clay sculpture, from which she creates a mould and casts a hard copy in a composite medium. She then incorporates sheets of lead, cutting them into strips to weave or bind the forms—mirroring the complexities of identity and transformation. Rather than following a fixed plan, she allows the unconscious to guide the work, letting each piece unfold organically. The true meaning of a sculpture only reveals itself upon completion, uncovering rich layers of symbolism and emotion.

Having majored in painting and printmaking at the Tshwane University of Technology, Talitha Deetlefs later discovered her passion for sculpture while working in the film industry as a faux fabricator. This experience shaped her deep appreciation for threedimensional storytelling and led her to develop a unique artistic language that blends mythology, symbolism, and self-inquiry.

Now based in Somerset West, Talitha Deetlefs continues to create evocative sculptures that transcend conventional narratives, offering a powerful exploration of identity and transformation. Through her art, she challenges viewers to reflect on their own embodied stories—the beliefs, histories, and contradictions that shape who they are.

Talitha Deetlefs is represented by The Artist Gallery in Cape Town.