For artist Sylke van Niekerk, painting is more than a creative pursuit. It is a form of prayer, reflection, and connection.
That deeply personal approach is on full display in For God’s Glory, her new exhibition at Altona’s Gallery in the Park, where visitors are invited into a collection of abstract acrylic works inspired by faith, gratitude, and the creative journey itself.
Van Niekerk describes the exhibition as emerging from a season of transition. Beginning work on the collection in the fall, she spent months immersed in the paintings, creating many of the featured pieces specifically for the Altona exhibition.
“I felt grateful,” she said. “There was lots of change. The year was coming to an end. Everything seemed to be in transition.”
Working primarily with acrylic paint on wood panels, van Niekerk embraces a highly intuitive process. Rather than starting with a fixed image in mind, she allows layers of paint, texture, colour, and movement to guide the work.
“I try not to go into my head too much,” she explained. “I choose colours, use different tools, and let things happen as they happen.”
That sense of discovery is rooted in what she calls her “bloom practice,” a daily creative exercise that involves sketching and experimenting with colour combinations, shapes, and textures. Elements that resonate with her during those sessions often find their way into larger paintings.
The resulting works are rich with layered surfaces, scraped textures, and bold colour palettes. Blue and gold appear repeatedly throughout the exhibition, a combination van Niekerk says she is continually drawn to.
While the paintings are abstract, faith remains at the heart of the collection.
One central series, arranged as a “prayer walk,” consists of six movements that guide viewers through themes of awakening, reflection, and fulfilment. Each piece is paired with a prayer and inspired by scripture.
“When I created those things, I felt so connected to them,” she said. “All the art is connected to God. I ask every day for guidance.”
Of the six movements, the final piece, Fulfilment, holds special meaning.
“It feels like everything is falling into place,” van Niekerk said. “I feel more connected and bold. I can encourage other people. It feels different.”
Her artistic process often involves living with a painting for weeks before deciding whether it is complete. “When it doesn’t speak to me anymore and doesn’t call me back, then I feel it’s done,” she said.
That willingness to embrace uncertainty is reflected throughout the exhibition. Some works evolved dramatically from their original concepts, while others emerged from unexpected textures and happy accidents discovered through sanding, layering, and experimentation.
Though van Niekerk has exhibited previously in Winkler and Morden, For God’s Glory marks her first exhibition at Gallery in the Park.
Looking at the collection installed together for the first time was a memorable experience.
“I felt really grateful,” van Niekerk said. “I looked at my art yesterday and thought, ‘I haven’t seen it together like that.’ It’s really cool.”
More than anything, she hopes visitors leave with a sense of beauty, positivity, and connection.
“I wish they feel the beauty that is all around,” she said. “I hope they can connect with the paintings and with the unspoken. This is my language.”
Also on display now at the gallery are exhibitions from Kathy Levandoski and Clyde Finlay.
