Arie Coetzee, born in 1962 against the ever-changing backdrop of South Africa’s expressive skies and golden wheat fields, is an artist whose work reflects the vibrant spirit of his homeland. From an early age, Coetzee’s world was infused with creativity within a close-knit family where art, music, and literature were cherished. At age eleven, after winning first prize in a local art competition, a pivotal moment crystallized his lifelong ambition to become an artist. The encouragement of inspirational teachers, combined with his own sixteen years teaching primary school art in South Africa, fostered a fearless exploration of multiple mediums, including painting, clay, marquetry, and relief printing. 

​

Arie’s aesthetic roots are deeply entwined

with the South African landscape—the rolling

blue mountains, wide-open skies under

thunderous clouds, shimmering water,

and the dynamic patterns of wind sweeping

through fields.

 

These natural elements permeate his work,

born from countless hours spent sketching

and absorbing nature’s subtle palette.

The luminous colors and shifting light that captivated him as a child continue to define his artistic language, which embraces expressionist qualities alongside emerging explorations of Abstract Expressionism and Cubism.

​

Educated as an art teacher in South Africa, Coetzee devoted sixteen years to nurturing young students before relocating to England, where he served as Head of Art at an independent prep school for twelve years. Throughout this time, he maintained a steady personal practice, painting and building an online following. Retirement granted him the freedom to fully dedicate himself to his art, producing striking oils, emotive relief prints, and still lifes distinguished by a sense of quiet stability and expressive impasto brushwork.

​

The influence of artists such as Kandinsky, Mondrian, Sonia Delaunay, Newman, and Rothko can be seen in Coetzee’s bold use of color and atmospheric depth, while echoes of Van Gogh’s apparent simplicity and Rembrandt’s mastery of chiaroscuro lend emotional strength and complexity to his work. His brushwork shifts according to subject and mood: heavy, textured applications create energetic compositions, while more subtle palettes evoke contemplative calm. This adaptability embodies his core philosophy that “Art is not just a way of life, it is life.”

Whether rendering geometric abstract landscapes, still lifes that vibrate with inner tranquility, or expressive portrait prints alive with line and movement, Arie’s work is marked by a contemplative yet vital spirit. Each piece invites immersion—a moment of anticipation in the landscape, the stability of a carefully observed object, or the emotional swell of a portrait’s gaze. He finds particular satisfaction in geometric abstractions that distill the essence of nature’s stillness and abstracted portraits emphasizing the raw power of line. Unbound by any single medium, his creative process remains fluid, exploring the poetry of color, form, and rhythm in ways that invite viewers into his thoughtful and vital world.

​

Over more than two decades, Coetzee’s work has reached collectors across the UK, Europe, South Africa, and America. His aspirations remain strong - he dreams of exhibiting in galleries, participating in art markets, and continually expanding his artistic frontiers. Beyond the studio, his life is enriched by poetry, guitar melodies, and time spent outdoors, all of which fuel his ongoing creativity.

​

Arie Coetzee’s body of work invites us to pause in moments of intimate grandeur, to connect with the ever-changing color and light of the natural world, and to experience, through the passionate gestures of his hand, the living heartbeat of art itself.