Strijdom van der Merwe’s works are intentionally transient – fleeting gestures rather than conventional sculptures. They are created on site, using only materials found in the vicinity, and destined to exist for a fragment of time before yielding to the elements. The results are playful and profound, ephemeral yet enduring. Depending on the nature of the work or the commission the work can also be more permanent, but in doing so always celebrating the beauty of nature.

He is a full-time artist who lives in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Among the many decorations he received are the Jackson Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant 2022 / 2008, A medal of honour from the South African Academy of Arts and Science, the Prince Claus grant in Amsterdam. He was nominated for the Daimler Chrysler award for sculpture in public spaces, to mention a few.

He has held numerous solo and group exhibitions over the past years and his work has been bought by private and public collectors locally and abroad. Commissioned work and Residency’s on invitation where done in 21 countries.