Hylton Nel

is a world-renowned ceramicist whose whimsical sculptures have enchanted audiences for over five decades. Developing his own visual language, he has innovated traditional pottery techniques to give form to his rich and varied ideas.

Born in Zambia in 1941, Nel started his artistic journey while studying for a Fine Art degree at Rhodes University. He then moved to Europe where he continued studying painting and ceramics in Antwerp, before moving to the UK and starting an antique business.

On his return to Africa at the start of the 1970s, Nel settled in South Africa where he opened his studio in Carlitzdorp on the Western Cape. Although a reclusive figure, Nel’s character is palpable within his work, which is always playful and often strongly political.