Marjorie Wallace

Marjorie Wallace was a Scottish-born visual artist who trained at the Edinburgh College of Art from 1942 to 1947. Following her studies, she was awarded a travel grant to explore Europe, after which she moved to Paris. In the mid-1950s, Wallace relocated to South Africa, settling in Onrus near Hermanus. Her home became an important gathering place for writers and intellectuals, including Uys Krige, Ingrid Jonker, Jack Cope, and Breyten Breytenbach, many of whom were featured in Wallace’s artworks. Her practice focused on portraiture as well as intimate domestic scenes, often depicting moments from her daily life such as shared meals, reading and the presence of her cats.

Wallace and her husband spent three years living in Greece in the late 1960s, an experience that also informed her artistic output. She remained attentive to the social and political realities of South Africa particularly the experiences of those marginalised under apartheid, themes which are reflected in her work. She was also committed to mentorship, supporting Black and Coloured artists, including Gladys Mgudlandlu.

Working primarily in painting and drawing, Wallace developed a distinctive visual language grounded in observation and personal narrative. She exhibited widely during her lifetime, and her work is represented in numerous public and private collections, including the Iziko South African National Gallery, the Pretoria Art Museum, the University of Stellenbosch, and the SABC Art Collection.

In 2005, Wallace was posthumously awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in Bronze in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the visual arts.