Hendrik Nekhofhe

Biography

Hendrik was born in 1955 in Venda. He lives in Shayandima, where both his studio and his home are. He started working at a very young age with clay, making pots, and inspired by his mother. He excelled at drawing in school. Many of his sculptures begin as a drawing and are then transformed into a wooden sculpture. Hendrik started with the carving of animals and then moved on to images of people.

He is a very disciplined artist and his studio and tools are immaculately kept and organised, and this can be seen in his sculptures too – they are polished and finished to perfection.

Hendrik has sold work to many large private and corporate collectors, as well as the University of Venda. He has exhibited widely and exhibitions include the Everard Read Contemporary Gallery, the Grahamstown National Arts Festival, Gallery 181 and various others.

He is a very disciplined artist and his studio and tools are immaculately kept and organized, and this can be seen in his sculptures too – they are polished and finished to perfection.

Much of his inspiration and encouragement came from his Sunday school teacher in the 1960s, Rina Rudolphe, who gave him focus and encouraged his talents by helping him promote his work. He would sell his little pieces at the hospital near Thohoyandou, along with the work produced by the disabled people staying there.

He has sold work to many large private collectors and the University of Venda. He has exhibited with Everard Read Contemporary Gallery, the Grahamstown Festival and various group collections