I have known Lize Krüger for many years not only as a respected artist but also as a close friend.

 

Majoring in painting in her final year at the University of the North West in South Africa towards her BA(FA) degree, the artist predominantly created exquisite, complex, large-scale oil paintings on canvas. Currently, Krüger’’s creative work mainly investigates social injustice and/or mental health and puts the vulnerability of the human psyche and -the condition under a critical spotlight. In the light of the above, I am of the opinion that Lize is not merely an artist, she is also an activist.

 

Recently, I have been able to physically work alongside the artist at the London Print Studio during a two-week artist’s residency in stone lithography (2019). Stone lithography is considered by many to be one of the most challenging printmaking processes and I was astounded by the artist’s work ethic, tenacity, and will to succeed.

 

Krüger’s work ethic and professionalism as a prolific contemporary artist are commendable.

 

My professional involvement with Ms. Krüger has straddled many arts-based activities, which I will expand upon:

 

• Krüger has shown on various group shows and had solo shows not only in the country of her birth South Africa, but also internationally. Despite many group exhibitions, the artist is currently working towards solo exhibitions in Lisbon, Portugal, and various Group Exhibitions in Brooklyn, New York City, USA; Vienna, and Switzerland. 

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• Each of her previous exhibitions in South Africa has been well planned, impeccably curated and very well received. In addition to the marketing of her exhibitions, she often sought her own exposure and sponsorship of items such as printing, event planning, and catering. These shows were well received and also sold well within a competitive marketplace.

 

• Lize successfully manages her own studio close to London in Horsham, England.

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• After the tragic loss of her son and brother, the artist is not afraid to tackle the rarely spoken about reality of suicide. Her work could be described as art as activism and is never without a meaningful solid concept.

 

• The artist has always been a meticulous painter and has often pushed the boundaries of contemporary painting in South Africa and internationally, for example by overlaying sheets of Plexiglass on top of her canvas and in doing so, creating layered works with incredible depth and conceptual strength. Lize is fearless and no issue is too “sacred” for the artist to tackle. Lize’s skill and investigation of her subject matter is highly commendable, which has resulted in the numerous accolades referred to in her CV. Currently, Lize mainly works with new media by utilizing PROCREATE as her primary tool to create her dense and layered archival pigment prints. However, in these works, many individual elements juxtaposed in the final works are still created by her own hand. The artist is already receiving international acclaim and has been invited to show her new media works at a variety of international exhibitions.

 

• I have recently been privileged to view Lize’s hugely exciting new body of work in her studio as she prepares for her solo exhibitions in Portugal and the US as stated above.

 

• Ms. Krüger’s critically acclaimed commissioned project at The Lost Gardens of Heligan located near Mevagissey in Cornwall, England was not only brilliant in my opinion, but incredibly well received by the public. In Their Name: Don’t Come Here to Sleep or Slumber (2018) is a permanent installation comprising of three separate installations: The Lost Ones, The Forgotten Ones and Heligan. The installation was commissioned by Heligan to mark the close of the World War 1 Centenary.  

 

In addition to the above-mentioned, I have been privileged to see the artist in action when dealing with art institutions, galleries, clients, press, public and fellow artists. In all of these, she has been extremely professional, creative and personable. She has an effervescent personality and is very friendly and approachable while being knowledgeable and hugely efficient. 

 

Lize Krüger’s commitment to the Arts and social activism as a full-time practicing artist, is of the utmost importance in our broken world.

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Christiaan Diedericks [BSc, MA (FA)]

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