About
Marius Jansen van Vuuren is a multidisciplinary artist with a history in building cross-cultural relationships through engaging public art projects. He gained recognition through large-scale works that invite spontaneous interaction, often exploring the intersection of human, animal, and technology, both in physical and social contexts.
His art spans mixed media, with graffiti-inspired paintings and sculptures that investigate the personal relationships formed within shared spaces, highlighting the impact we have on the environments we inhabit. Influenced by street art’s defiance of traditional practices, Jansen van Vuuren’s work is a vivid documentation of the creative process. Through text, doodles, and stencils, he creates a playful, urban expression that emerges in the chaotic harmony of crowded compositions.
Born in 1981, Jansen van Vuuren earned his BTech: Fine Art degree in 2009. He has since embraced multiple roles in the art world, including artist, facilitator, educator, art coordinator, and project planner. Collaboration is a central element of his process, especially when creating public works. In 2016, he created a giant sculpture as part of the flagship project for the Free State Art Festival, a turning point that opened doors to international collaborations.
The most notable projects include collaborating with Alex Rinsler on the world’s largest straw squirrel in Kazakhstan, as well as significant works in China and the UK. In 2019, he teamed up with Australian artist Paul Gazzola to produce a series of giant floating sculptures for the Free State Art Festival, pushing the boundaries of public art.
More recently, Jansen van Vuuren spearheaded the planning of a Mobile Art Museum for the Oliewenhuis Art Museum in Bloemfontein, as well as coordinating the Presidential Public Arts Program (PPAP), part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus Plan (PESP). This initiative empowered 100 artists to create impactful murals across South Africa, furthering his commitment to public engagement and artistic collaboration.