Marie Stander lives in the small town of Jamestown, just outside Stellenbosch. A figurative artist, known for her works in charcoal, she finds most of her inspiration for her work from the people she knows, loves and cares for, often taking inspiration from the issues she sees affecting the people in her community.

She studied and specialised in gurative and portrait work at the University of Stellenbosch under Paul Emsley, graduating with a BA in Fine Arts (Ed) in 1986. She’s taught and lectured in art and design at various institutions, and in 2000 opened The Marie Stander School of Art, where she lectures about 70 students in painting, holding regular exhibitions of their works as well as an annual charity art auction.

Marie’s work forms part of the Sanlam Cooperative Art Collection and in 2010 Sanlam held a Retrospective exhibition of her work. At the same time it published the book Onse Mense. The book comprises 22 of her selected art works, each accompanied by a poem created for the work by a South African poet.