“Jacob van Schalkwyk” (b. 1979, Cape Town) is an artist and writer whose work bridges abstraction, mathematics, and mystical form. His multidisciplinary practice encompasses painting, drawing, video, sculpture, and installation, challenging conventional narratives in Western art history. Van Schalkwyk studied Drawing at Pratt Institute (BFA) in Brooklyn, NY, and earned an MAVA in Sculpture from the University of Stellenbosch, where he has also taught since 2016.
After nine years in New York experimenting with audio-visual performance, including residencies at CalArts and performances at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Central Park Summerstage, Van Schalkwyk returned to South Africa in 2008, focusing on drawing and exhibiting extensively. His debut novel, “The Alibi Club,” was published by Umuzi/Random House in 2014.
Solo exhibitions include “Humdingers” (Suburbia Contemporary, Barcelona, 2022). His work has featured in group exhibitions such as “Urban Environments and Imaginary Spaces” (2021) and “Surroundings” (2020). Recent art fair presentations include FNB Art Joburg (2023), Investec Cape Town Art Fair (2023, 2022), and Future Fair (New York, 2022).