About

Pierre le Riche’s practice coalesces instances of sculpture and craft, with the artist not associating himself with any primary choice of medium or output. Born into his Afrikaner identity in Apartheid South Africa in 1986, Le Riche identifies as a liberal, white, gay, Afrikaans male; all of which is woven into, and essential to, his artistic practice.

Le Riche holds a Master of Fine Arts with distinction from the University of Cape Town, and has created bespoke installations for the likes of Daimler and Cartier. His Rainbow Rooms installation has been part of a traveling exhibitions in the United States of America and the Peoples Republic of China since 2018.

He dreams of making a life-size construction of his entire childhood home in thread.

Le Riche lives and works between Cape Town, South Africa and Aachen, Germany.

Photo Credit: Omar Abhar


Curriculum Vitae

Education
2017 Master of Fine Arts, Cum Laude (Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town)
2013 Bachelor of Visual Arts (University of South Africa)

Selected grants and bursaries
2017 Centre for Artistic Activism 'Art Action Academy' workshop grant
2016 University of Cape Town postgraduate research funding
2016 Jules Kramer music and fine arts scholarship
2015 University of Cape Town postgraduate research funding
2015 Jules Kramer music and fine arts scholarship
2015 Jules Kramer international travel grant
2014 Assemblage 'Fresh Produce' workshop grant

Employment
2018 - 2019
, Glen Carlou Gallery, Curator. Paarl, South Africa.

Committees
2016 - 2018
 Rust-en-Vrede Gallery executive committee
2015 Rust-en-Vrede Gallery selection committee

Residencies, conferences and workshops
2018
Nirox Foundation, August. Johannesburg, South Africa. 
2017 Centre for Artistic Activism 'Art Action Academy' workshop. Johannesburg, South Africa.
2014 Assemblage 'Fresh Produce' Emerging artist and peer mentoring workshop. Johannesburg, South Africa.
2014 Arteles Creative Centre, May. Haukijarvi, Finland.

Awards
2018 Sasol New Signatures. Merit award.
2018 ABSA L'Atelier. Top 100.
2015 Sanlam Portrait Award. Top 100.
2014 Vuleka Art Competition. Overall winner.
2013 Vuleka Art Competition. Merit award for painting.
2013 ABSA L’Atelier Art Competition. Top 100.