BUTTERFLY

A model-turned-artist's unique interpretation of the human condition

- LISA ABDELLAH

Lorraine van Wyk is a self-taught artist who blends contemporary portrait photography with impasto-style painting on the human form, transforming her subjects into living works of art.

'I see my life in two phases. The first feels like a vivid, cinematic memory, albeit one I enjoy looking back on. The second is about self-discovery, a shift inward. I see my work as a literal unfolding of my story, reflecting how I see myself and the world around me,' Lorraine begins.

Growing up in Cape Town's Northern Suburbs, she was a tomboy, always on her bicycle. But with the support of her mother and her South African agent, Lorraine took her first-ever flight to Hamburg, Germany, at age 15. By the time she finished high school, she'd signed with top modelling agencies in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain and was living in Paris.

She was a well-known swimwear model in South Africa, the face of numerous beauty campaigns in France due to her naturally tanned skin, regularly modelled for European catalogues and for famous brands, including Escada, Piz Buin, Macy's, Chanel and Tommy Hilfiger.

Her modelling career, spanning from 1996 to 2018, took her to more than 30 countries, and she was often on location in exotic destinations. Despite a life of constant movement, Cape Town remained an anchor - she returned every summer, as the city was, and still is, a hub for international fashion shoots.

While she acknowledges the glamour of modelling, she reflects, 'Models need thick skins. I'm ultimately proud of my long career, loyal clients and lifelong friendships in the industry. Travelling the world while maintaining professionalism is no easy feat.