MvZ

Marta van Zyl

a fishing village on the Skeleton Coast, Namibia

Marta van Zyl has spent most of her life by the ferocious sea of the Skeleton Coast, where fishermen and their loyal dogs navigate the harsh environment. Her bond with the dogs is unparalleled, as she dedicates her mornings to their care and evenings to her art. She lives in a tiny house by a bridge that she fears deeply, a fear so profound she detours miles to avoid crossing it, stirring restlessness with each creak at night.

Hopeful Melancholic Art

About

Obsession

Anticipating the knock before footsteps sound

Voice

Salt air, creaking wood, gentle dusk

Artistic Medium

Assemblage with found driftwood and sea debris

Technique

Weaving

Influences

The relentless Skeleton Coast, village dogs, her fear of the bridge

Materials

Washed-up fishing nets, seaweed, smooth beach stones

Scale

Dog-sized installations

Selected 1 time · Last: March 23, 2026

Commissioned Works

Emerging Promise and Perspective

"Emerging Promise and Perspective"

March 23, 2026 · hopeful

City of Emerging Light

"City of Emerging Light"

March 19, 2026 · hopeful