Marie Vermeulen Breed
Marie’s artistic journey started with a sharp eye and a deep love for drawing – a talent that quickly set her apart. While her family leaned toward the medical field, Marie followed her heart into the world of art, carving her own path with dedication and passion.
Born in Pretoria on 7 May 1954, she already stood out in school with a distinction in art. From there, she went on to earn her BA in Fine Art through the University of South Africa, graduating with distinction in painting. In 1976, she completed a course in portraiture at the prestigious Royal Academy in London, studying under well-known artists like George Israels and Kingsley Sutton.
Over the years, Marie has built a strong reputation both locally and internationally. Her work can be found in private and corporate collections across South Africa, the UK, Europe, and the USA. Her success is a mix of natural talent, technical skill, business savvy, and an undeniable love for colour, people, and light.
Her energy and enthusiasm shine through in everything she does – and you can feel it in her art. Though she’s explored still life, landscapes and portraiture, it’s the human face and form that keep drawing her back. Her portraits are deeply romantic, touched with impressionist influences, where light and colour dance across the canvas to create a mood, a moment, a memory.
Marie has a unique ability to capture both the softness and complexity of people – from the gentle vulnerability of children to the powerful presence of prominent figures in business, politics and education. Her wildlife paintings, on the other hand, celebrate the soul of Africa: majestic animals set in vivid natural landscapes filled with light, shadow, and earthy colour.
Her technique is confident and expressive — she paints with brushes, palette knives, even her fingers — moving from bold texture to delicate detail with ease. Yet, no matter the subject, Marie stays true to one thing above all: the integrity of her medium.
In her latest work, she’s exploring a new kind of portrait – one without people. Instead of painting the figure, she captures their presence through the rooms they live in, the spaces that shape them. These “portraits by omission” offer a poetic glimpse into someone’s world, using interiors to reveal personality, history, and class. It’s an approach that finds beauty and meaning in the everyday — a quiet kind of storytelling that still speaks volumes about the person behind the space.
At heart, Marie’s work is always about people – their stories, their energy, their essence – even when they’re not on the canvas.
