Dael Couturier

About Dael Couturier

Dael Couturier was born in South Africa, where she developed a deep connection with the country and its people as she grew up. When she immigrated to Australia in her twenties, impressions of South Africa’s indigenous cultures and exquisite beauty were imbedded in her psyche, and Dael wanted to share them with others. She began to experiment with oil-on-canvas painting, and discovered a medium through which to express her passion. Her paintings evoke the fortitude and grace of a people who have triumphed over colonialism and the tyranny of apartheid. The human figures stand tall and proud, babies strapped to their backs as they go about their daily work. These are juxtaposed against a background of greens, ochres, browns and reds, and interspersed with motifs such as the zebra and thatched rondavels that are unmistakably South African. Dael lives in Melbourne and returns to South Africa every year to reconnect with her birthplace and gather inspiration for her art.