ABOUT VanniKloof Studio
VanniKloof Studio is an art-led design studio rooted in the remote Stormberg Mountains. Inspired by nature and grounded in fine art, we craft thoughtful visual identities, curate creative experiences, and champion rural talent through exhibitions and collaborative projects.
Our Creative Process
At VanniKloof Studio, our creative process begins with listening. We take time to understand the heart of each project; its purpose, context, and voice; before any design or artwork takes shape. Collaboration is central to our approach, allowing ideas to unfold thoughtfully and with intention.
Grounded in visual arts practice, informed by curatorial and international experience, and shaped by our natural surroundings, our work moves beyond surface-level trends. By combining artistic intuition with strategic thinking, we create visual identities and creative outcomes that feel considered, authentic, and lasting.
Our Creative Journey
VanniKloof Studio is a creative art and design studio based in the remote Stormberg Mountains of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Rooted in nature and shaped by fine art practice, the studio brings together visual arts, thoughtful design, and community-driven creative experiences.
Founded on the belief that meaningful art and opportunity should extend beyond urban centres, VanniKloof Studio creates space for artists and creatives to connect, collaborate, and grow through exhibitions, workshops, open calls, and design-led projects.
Bridging city and country, tradition and innovation, VanniKloof Studio supports creative journeys with intention, depth, and care.
Services
VanniKloof Studio offers a range of creative services rooted in visual storytelling, artistic process, and meaningful engagement.
ART RETREATS
Curated art retreats set in rural landscapes, offering space to slow down, reconnect with creative practice, and engage deeply with art and nature.
EXHIBITIONS
Thoughtfully curated exhibitions showcasing contemporary art within a rural context, creating space for dialogue, reflection, and discovery.
WORKSHOPS
Immersive, short-form workshops that encourage experimentation, creative confidence, and connection — often shaped by place, material, and shared making.
OPEN CALLS
Curated opportunities for emerging and established artists to exhibit, collaborate, and gain visibility through themed open-call projects.
Our Creative Values
Our work is guided by intention, curiosity, and respect for process. We value collaboration, thoughtful making, and creative work rooted in integrity - shaped by place, people, and purpose rather than trends or speed.
Meet the Founder
VanniKloof Studio was founded by South African visual artist Sonelle de Klerk, whose practice spans fine art, creative direction, and community-led cultural work.
With over two decades of international experience, her artistic practice has developed through travel, exhibition, and cross-cultural exchange, working across painting, mixed media, and digital processes. Alongside her individual practice, she has curated exhibitions and led creative projects that place process, collaboration, and context at their centre.
Her professional journey includes years working in London at the intersection of creativity and strategy, where she led teams across marketing, events, and design. This background continues to inform VanniKloof Studio’s considered, structured, and process-led approach.
Today, her work at VanniKloof Studio is rooted in place; bridging city and country, nature and design; and committed to creating meaningful creative opportunities within the rural Eastern Cape.