10/09/2026
A face emerges from colour, gesture and raw expression.
Paul van Rensburg approaches the portrait with an instinctive, energetic use of colour. Reds, burnt oranges, deep blacks, blues and flashes of green move across the face and hair, creating a work that feels both immediate and intensely personal. The expressive brushwork is deliberately visible, allowing the painting to retain its sense of movement and emotion.
Born in Queenstown in the Eastern Cape in 1963, van Rensburg developed his connection with art from childhood, completing his first painting at just six years old. After a successful career in business, he returned to painting professionally and later established his studio in Cape Town. His practice spans acrylic, oil, pastel, charcoal and sculpture, with South African landscapes, people and experiences providing recurring sources of inspiration.
This acrylic portrait is a powerful example of his expressive approach. Rather than relying on photographic realism, van Rensburg uses colour and gestural mark-making to create presence. The result is a portrait that asks to be experienced rather than simply observed.
Paul van Rensburg
130 x 80 cm
Acrylic
An expressive work of South African contemporary art, bringing colour, character and emotion together on a substantial canvas.
Discover this work and explore the wider collection at kunssinnig.com.
