Gina van der Ploeg, born in 1994 in Cape Town, is a sculptor, fibre artist, and farmer whose work is deeply rooted in the intersection of nature and humanity.
After graduating from Michaelis Fine Art School in 2017, she received an award for her compelling body of work, wear | we’re. Her academic journey continued at the University of Cape Town, where she pursued a postgraduate degree exploring material religion and portable sacred spaces in African Traditional Religions. During this time, she collaborated with the non-profit organisation, Our Workshop, curating exhibitions for several museums across the Western Cape. Her artistic practice is informed by a thoughtful study of the materiality and ecology of objects, textiles, and plants, delving into the ways nature and human intervention converge. This exploration shapes her engagement with materials that are grown, harvested, and reclaimed, with an emphasis on the cycles of life and sustainability.
Gina’s work has been featured in both international and local art fairs, culminating in her first solo exhibition at 196 Gallery, Cape Town, in January 2024. She has also participated in residencies in South Africa, Austria, and Japan, and in October 2024, she presented a duo exhibition in Kotoura, Japan, as well as at the Stellenbosch Art Mile in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
