PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Artist Marcelle Heller is taking the colours, textures and natural beauty of the Garden Route across continents with her latest collection, which will go on exhibition in Switzerland later this month.
The exhibition at Galerie am Bach in Erlinsbach on Sunday 15 November marks a return to the Swiss town where Heller lived for 24 years before leaving the country in 2012.
After spending several years in France, she settled in Plettenberg Bay in 2020, where the surrounding landscapes, ocean, wildlife and distinctive light became important influences on her artistic work.
Working with colour, form and texture, Heller interprets the natural world through her own experiences rather than simply reproducing what she sees. Her background in interior architecture also influences her approach to structure and composition.
"Plettenberg Bay has given me the space and inspiration to explore my art in a completely different way. The colours, the light, the ocean and the incredible natural beauty around me have all found their way into my work," says Heller.
Her interest in art began during her childhood in Switzerland, where she grew up in a creative family. She later studied interior architecture and psychology, drawing inspiration from renowned artists Friedensreich Hundertwasser and Antoni Gaudí. Before relocating to South Africa, she also headed the Aargau Cancer League in Aarau for several years.
Beyond developing her own artistic career, Heller has become actively involved in Plettenberg Bay's arts community as treasurer and board member of the Plettenberg Bay Arts Association.
She played a leading role in the White House Collection, a curated exhibition presented during the 2026 Plett Arts Festival. The exhibition brought together selected local artists and achieved sales of 23 art-works, with a combined value of R157 980.
The association's chairperson, Jill Forbes, congratulated Heller on taking her work to an international audience and praised her commitment to creating exhibition opportunities for fellow artists.
The exhibition opens at 11:00 on 15 November, with Heller in attendance to discuss her work and artistic journey. Former cantonal government member Ernst Hasler will deliver the opening address, accompanied by Bern-based musician Markus Aerni.
The exhibition runs until 13 December at Galerie am Bach, Hauptstrasse 90, Erlinsbach, Switzerland.
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