Walter Oltmann

South African artist Walter Oltmann (b.1960) has been a significant creative force since the early 1980s, producing diverse works and public art. He has been deeply engaged with the connection between fine art and craft, evident in his hand-fabricated wire sculptures. Drawing inspiration from Southern African weaving traditions and domestic textiles, his creative works often explore themes of fragility and time, sometimes juxtaposing decorative elements with unsettling subject matter.

Oltmann holds fine art degrees from the University of Natal and the University of the Witwatersrand, where he also taught. A recipient of the Standard Bank Young Artists award (2001), he’s had major exhibitions, including “In the Weave” (2014). In 2022, he received an award supporting a significant body of work shown at NIROX Sculpture Park. His upcoming book is titled “In Time”. His PhD research explored the use of textile-based handcraft in South African Contemporary art. Oltmann’s work is held in prominent collections like the Iziko South African National Gallery and the Seattle Art Museum. He currently lives and works in Johannesburg, South Africa.