Original Art That Reflects Life’s Quiet Moments

Art by Nicola Bouwer

  • Oil painting titled 'Under Spotlight' by Nicola Bouwer, 59.5x41.5cm, unframed. A chair positioned under a window, bathed in light, creating a quiet, contemplative scene.

    OIL PAINTINGS

    Original oil paintings capturing the interplay of light and dark.

    VIEW OIL PAINTINGS
  • Contemporary analogue collage titled 'Plunge' by Nicola Bouwer, A4, unframed. A dynamic composition exploring form and movement through layered cut-paper elements

    COLLAGE ART

    Blending found imagery, these contemporary analogue collages explore the connections between fashion, nature, and the human form.

    EXPLORE COLLAGE
Nicola Bouwer, Johannesburg artist working in painting and collage.

About

My work explores moments of stillness, emotional honesty, and the quiet spaces between presence and memory. Rooted in introspection, it often draws from nature, family relationships, and the unseen layers of life’s experiences, exploring what lies beneath the surface.

I work with both oil painting and collage, alternating between them as each offers different ways of thinking and making.

My oil paintings are made using a rub-out technique, revealing forms through erasure and light. These works lean into atmospheric, ghostly impressions, soft tonal shifts, and a dreamlike quality that speaks to transience and emotional resonance.

Collage allows me to engage with found imagery and photography, weaving together fragments into visually layered narratives. Themes of identity, transformation, playfulness, and quiet tension recur. Across both mediums, I look to create space—for ambiguity, emotional resonance, and connection.

Art is my way of thinking, processing, and finding meaning. I hope it offers others a moment to pause, to feel, and to see something of yourselves within the quiet.

A cup of coffee next to a container holding paintbrushes on a wooden table, with a painting in the background.

Studio Notes

Here, I share what inspires me, how I work, and the stories behind my art. It’s a space to connect and see what goes into each piece.

  • Nicola Bouwer’s work is radiant and rich. When I view Bouwer’s work, it clearly stands out. Her ability to tell a story with the least amount of subject on the canvas is unparalleled. A single chair against an identified background says so much. Bouwer has the ability to move you to tears with only a single chair. I’m a proud collector of her work. I am thrilled to witness her artistic journey and can’t wait to see where she will go…and take me with her.

    Yasser Bagersh

  • 'I love my art pieces from Nicola🩷. And they make me especially happy because I know they are hers.'

    Suzanne Stevens

  • This little wonderful artwork now belongs to me! I’m so proud to offer it a new home and be its caretaker! '

    Lisa Younger

  • I don't have any abstract art in my house. It isn't that I don't appreciate abstract art - I just couldn't find pieces that I felt comfortable living with. This triptych by Nicola Bouwer was the perfect option for me: architectural, modern and fresh, but at home in my home.

    Zelda Pringle

  • I am lucky to have one of Nicola’s atmospheric paintings in my hallway. It is serene and moody, taking you to a quieter place every time you walk past.

    Robyn Shamu

  • I have known Nicola for many years, and although I am no expert, her growth as an artist has been sublime and a wonder to watch. Nicola’s style is relatable, and her pictures take pride of place in our home.

    Mark Hele

  • I have been privileged to be able to purchase three art pieces from Nicola. I saw them at one of her exhibitions and they struck me as being unique and creative. It is a collage series and the three art works together tell a beautiful story. I love the way Nicola expresses her creative ideas through different mediums and the artworks speak their own unique language! List Item

    Ingrid Sellschop

  • The scene in this painting was a day of thick late winter mist in Dullstroom. The wet conditions caused the oranges of the terrain and yellow grass to pop out through the clouds. With Alan fishing in the distance, Nicola so successfully captured this stunning vista. I love this piece. Thank you.

    Jen Bedford-Shaw

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