IN REMEMBERANCE OF CELEBRATED ARTIST

25/2/1935-16/07/2010

Luther Marais was born in Port-Elizabeth on 25 February 1935.  His family moved to Porterville during 1939 where his father established a printing business.  Uncle Tienie Marais had his own orchestra and also painted a little, thus, the young Luther was exposed to music and art from an early age.

At the age of four he could the concertina and harmonica and at sic he toured with the orchestra of the University of Stellenbosch.

Luther managed his father’s printing business which he later took over.  He obtained his Master Printer’s Diploma from the Printing Union of Cape Town at the age of seventeen.  At the age of eighteen he formed his own orchestra consisting of five members.  They signed contracts and performed at a variety of venues.  For five years the group broadcasted light South-African music for the SABC and during that time two records featuring his own compositions were released.

His first painting saw the light in 1956.  He moved to Pretoria in 1974 where he commenced painting professionally.  He never studied art formally, as it poured out of him naturally.  Mr Swannie Swanepoel, owner of the Swanepoel chain of Galleries, immediately saw his potential and bought everything he painted.

Luther’s first one-man-exhibition was held in Vredendal in the Cape Province.  Some of the best known galleries in the country exhibit his work as part of their combined exhibitions, and numerous paintings can be found in embassies and private collections throughout South-Africa and the world.

His last exhibition was in 2009 at Alice Art Ruimsig

Luther’s love for the Cape countryside, the West coast and its people, the Malay Quarters in the old District Six, the mission and fisherman’s communities as well as Woodstock, Salt River, Elands Bay, Struisbaai etcetera, is mirrored in all his paintings.

At 75 years of age we salute you as a well-known celebrated artist always dedicated to send out only the highest quality work!