A departure from her favoured birds as subject matter, Uys currently explores themes of permanence vs impermanence through unfocussed dreamlike images of vegetation and dense undergrowth – branches, twigs, moss – using a fresh palette. Her usual brushstroke is exaggerated, adding to the feel of altered reality. The depiction of light against shadow is used add depth to the concept of fleeting and fragility.
Ingrid Uys was born in 1985 in Ermelo, Mpumalanga. Growing up in small towns like Middleburg, Clarens and Harrismith, she participated in art classes in different studios in many different small towns. Uys completed her BA Fine Art Degree in 2007 at the University of Pretoria, specializing in oil painting.
Uys had her first solo exhibition in 2016 at Halifax Art Gallery in Johannesburg. Since then, she has participated in numerous group exhibitions since at various spaces, including Carol Lee and Lizamore and Associates. Her work was included in the exhibition hosted by BirdLife South Africa, (Everard Read Gallery) in 2016. Over the last 3 consecutive years, Uys has enjoyed successful shows at the Turbine Art Fair with the White River Gallery, her second solo hosted by the White River Gallery in Oct 2020.
"I find most of my inspiration in nature, the beauty and mysteries of creation, finding ways to translate meaning and purpose through my work. I am fascinated by the delicate relationship we have with each other and nature. A major theme in my work is the fragility of time, a recurring and almost consistent concept I am developing. Wearing glasses/contact lenses myself, I find the vision we have, the way we see and interpret the world around us, captivating."
-Ingrid Uys 2021