Patrick Rorke

Patrick Rorke was born on 17 December 1953 in Morija, Lesotho. He began his formal art training with an Art Matric at the Belgravia Art Centre, East London, in 1971. Between 1972 and 1980, Rorke explored his artistic identity while supporting himself through various occupations, including taxi driving, busking, door-to-door sales, and producing drawn and painted erotica.

In 1980, he returned to Lesotho to avoid apartheid in South Africa, where he discovered ceramics and worked primarily as a potter at Kolonyama Pottery and in his own studio in Teyateyaneng. From 1989 to 1994, Rorke returned to Johannesburg and taught art and pottery at the Alexandra Art Centre. Following the closure of the centre in 1994, he focused on painting and creating mosaics independently.

Rorke’s public works include mosaics at Summerlands (Parkhurst, Johannesburg), Mary Fitzgerald Square (Newtown, Johannesburg), Rovos Rail Station (Pretoria), and the New Metro Mall (Newtown, Johannesburg), as well as a mosaic column at Dish Studio (Parkhurst, Johannesburg). He has also contributed to lighting design at Christies Restaurant, Sandton. His exhibitions span both South Africa and internationally, including Boston, USA, and he is currently associated with the Stewart Gallery, Johannesburg.

Predominantly self-taught, Rorke credits his foundational studies at Belgravia Art Centre and mentorship under Barry Gibb for influencing his use of colour. His artistic practice is instinctive, driven by intuition rather than conceptual frameworks. He describes his style as “painterly expressionism” and his work as “Post Modern Neo Expressionism with a healthy nod towards antiquity.” Rorke’s subject matter alternates between reflections on urban landscapes and the human condition, and explorations of his subconscious through automatic imagery.

Rorke emphasizes that his art is predominantly subjective, seeking to convey detachment, yearning, and heightened awareness. He believes that the essence of art is minimalism and truth, guided by a mental state akin to meditation, allowing the unconscious to lead the creative process. Influences on his work include Soji Hamada, Georges Braque, Frank Auerbach, and the German Neo-expressionists.

Rorke’s work has been acquired by significant collections, including the Constitutional Court Art Collection (CCAC), where it contributes to the Court’s engagement with contemporary South African and Lesotho art. Currently, Rorke runs a contemporary art gallery in Morija, Lesotho, organizing exhibitions, events, and festivals, while continuing to paint and develop his understanding of the structure of art-making. He remains committed to achieving simplicity and directness in his work, a lifelong pursuit.

References

Art.co.za, n.d. Patrick Rorke – About the artist. Available at: https://www.art.co.za/patrickrorke/about.php [Accessed 26 September 2025].

Latitudes Online, n.d. Patrick Rorke. Available at: https://latitudes.online/artists/patrick_rorke? [Accessed 26 September 2025].

Rorke, P. and CCAC team. 2021. CCAC virtual interview with Patrick Rorke on 16/11/2021 - transcript. [online] Available at: https://ccac.concourttrust.org...