HENK VOS

World renowned Henk Vos, South Africa’s premier wildlife and equine artist, is back in the limelight!

Henk Vos was born in Amsterdam, Holland in 1946 and studied art at the Johannesburg School of Art. He began his career as a commercial artist and newspaper cartoonist and has worked for companies, newspapers and publishing houses, until the turning point in his life in 1975. Inspired many years ago by Oprah, who said `If you do what you love, you’ll never have to work again”, this was Henk’s kickstart to going on his own and following his dream. .

Durban based Vos is an exceptionally energetic visionary and an extraordinary artist. His reputation as a painter of wildlife has spread, recognized in South Africa as the premier wildlife and equine artist. His huge oil, Survival of the Giants, became the symbol in the African campaign to save the disappearing herds of elephants. He later became renowned for his depictions of racehorses and particularly for his monumental five metre long painting commemorating one hundred years of the Durban July horserace, titled The Painting of the Century, which took him five years to complete.

In his own words, the artist explains: "Gold, diamonds and the sheer space of South Africa before the turn of the century, attracted great men and women who were destined for greatness."

Because humanity lies always at the core, for almost a decade now, Henk Vos has had a dream: To bring to life on canvas the most eventful century in South African recorded history, a painting in oil of epic proportions to celebrate the South African Renaissance - from the seafarer Van Riebeeck to the icon, Mandela.

His work is now available exclusively on exhibition at Graceland Gallery in Mooi River, KwaZulu-Natal which is the perfect home for Vos’ work, as the gallery is situated in a beautifully refurbished barn, with the neighing of stud horses audible from the adjacent stables, set in lush Midlands surroundings and overlooking Giants Castle, a true reflection of Vos’s free spirit and soul. The gallery has framed and unframed limited prints carrying wildlife, equine and nude themes available.

Contact Graceland Gallery on 033 263 1200 or email: gracelandgallery@gmail.com Open Wednesday to Sunday from 10h00 to 16h00 – or by special appointment.