Santie Cronje
A painter and storyteller, a migrant and a traveller.
I've called New Zealand home since 1999, but South Africa is where my story began, shaping how I see and create art. I paint memory, place, belonging, and the things we carry with us.
After several years of running a public-facing studio and directing Deciduus Gallery through 2026, I am fully back in the studio, inspired by the possibilities ahead. The places I've travelled to and the spaces I've called home remain rich sources of inspiration, continually feeding into my work and story.
Belonging is the first small release of a new body of work I hope to continue exploring for some time. This collection is a personal reflection on migration, memory, and place, marking 27 years as a migrant from South Africa, alongside the realization that I have called 27 different houses home throughout my life.
In this series, the house becomes far more than a painted structure—it is an archetypal symbol and a vessel for meaning.
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Christmas Pet portrait commissions ✨️
Celebrate a much-loved companion with an original, hand-painted portrait this Christmas.
Each portrait is individually painted in acrylic, featuring a soft, layered background and an expressive approach that captures your pet's character and personality. Limited commissions available 🐶











