Nicole Pletts

Some artists search for extraordinary subjects. Nicole Pletts finds them in ordinary moments.

A swimmer disappearing beneath the surface of the water. Cyclists passing through the landscape. A quiet morning at the beach. The familiar rhythm of people going about their day. These are the scenes that continue to inspire her, not because they are dramatic, but because they remind us of the beauty that exists in everyday life.

Working primarily in oil paint, Pletts has developed a distinctive style that combines observation with atmosphere. Her paintings are rooted in real places and real experiences, yet they leave space for memory and emotion. They encourage us to slow down and notice the moments we might otherwise overlook.

Nicole's work begins with careful observation. She is rarely without a camera and is constantly collecting images during daily life. Rather than searching for spectacular views, she is drawn to fleeting moments that feel genuine and unforced. Back in the studio, these photographs become the starting point for paintings that are less about documenting a scene than capturing how it felt to be there.

There is no need for grand narratives in Nicole's paintings.
Instead, she celebrates the small experiences that often become our strongest memories. A family outing, a quiet walk, children at play or a familiar landscape can all become subjects worthy of attention.

Her paintings remind us that beauty is often found in the places we know best.

Collectors are drawn to Nicole Pletts' work because it feels familiar without ever becoming predictable. Her paintings sit comfortably within contemporary interiors, bringing warmth, calm and a sense of connection to the spaces we live in.

2019
Rossouw Modern – Nicole Pletts and Corné Eksteen
En-route – Green Gallery – Group Exhibition

2018
Finalist – Tollman Bouchard Finlayson Art Competition 

Which new trends or South African artists do you find inspiring at the moment?
I recently seem to be favouring the more contemporary (even abstract) work.  I’ve always been inspired by Kentridge, Irma Stern, Marlene Dumas, Hodgins, Penny Siopis and more recently, Mary Sibande,

Which South African deceased artist do you most admire and why?
Irma Stern for forging the way ahead in times where being a female artist (let alone South African) would have been nigh impossible…

If you could only have one piece of art in your life, what would it be?

How did you get started? Did you always want to be an artist?
I started +- 25 years ago – painting as a means of therapy – as a gift to myself – to do something solely for me.  I considered studying art whilst at school but my mother, who studied commercial art at the DUT, firmly discouraged me – so maths and accountancy won the day….