Page 26 - IFV Issue 1 January 2026

Lifestyle

WILDLIFE ARTIST IN BRONZE

Bernie van der Vyver’s Enduring Connection to Nature

n a quiet farm in Bethal, a young boy once spent his
days sketching animals and studying their movement
O– not knowing that those early drawings would one
day evolve into timeless bronze masterpieces. That boy was
Bernie van der Vyver, now one of South Africa’s most admired
wildlife sculptors, whose work captures the raw beauty, dignity,
and endurance of the African wilderness.
“Growing up on a farm in Bethal was really special,” Bernie recalls.
“Animals and nature always surrounded me. I loved collecting pictures
of all kinds of creatures. Studying their forms and movements, I
started drawing them. This was how I first got into art. Being around
so much wildlife sparked my love for nature and art.”

From Clay to Bronze
Like many artists, Bernie’s creative journey began with
simple tools – pencils, paper, and clay – long before he
discovered the power of bronze. Everything changed when he
encountered the work of South African masters Coert Steynberg
and Jo Roos. “Their sculptures were unlike anything I’d seen,” he
says. “They made their subjects in bronze look alive – as if they
could move at any moment.”
It wasn’t just the lifelike realism that drew him in. It was the
permanence. “Bronze doesn’t fade or crumble,” he explains. “It
keeps its beauty for generations. That endurance appealed to me
deeply – I wanted my art to stand the test of time.”
A pivotal moment came at an exhibition in Knysna, where Bernie
realised bronze would become his lifelong medium. “Seeing all that
bronze artistry together – so detailed and lasting – made me want
to create pieces that people could treasure for years to come.”

A Life in the Wild
For Bernie, art begins with observation. He still spends time in
national parks and reserves, photographing animals and studying
the tiniest details – the tension of muscle, the curve of a horn,
the flicker of awareness in a lion’s eyes. “Those field trips are my
classroom,” he says. “I’m always learning from nature.”
His sculptures have since travelled far beyond South Africa,
finding homes in collections across Europe and the United States.
Each one tells a story – of grace, survival, and reverence for the
creatures that define Africa’s wild heart.

24 • January/February 2026 • The Villager