About

"Art has been around me for as long as I can remember; from the paintings in my parent’s house, to my early years of making art at school. Creativity is like a lifelong friend that has guided me on this colourful life journey and it continues to inspire and surprise me every day." Santie

A visual storyteller, Santie Cronje’s paintings are closely connected to her life experiences. Originally from South Africa, New Zealand has been home for over 23 years.

Santie studied Art as a major subject in High School and completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Pretoria (South Africa) in 1994. A Galleried Artist since 2008, she has exhibited her work in numerous Solo Exhibitions and Group Shows throughout the Country. Her work is held in Private Collections in New Zealand and abroad.

A change in style...

Since Covid Santie’s work has undergone a shift, her evolving style closely resembling her paintings before she travelled to New Zealand.

‘It feels like I have come full circle with my work and with the added years of practice and a more settled mind, I am very excited to follow along this new path of exploration.

Her current body of work is very present and heavily influenced by the beautiful rural Waikato surroundings.

‘Being in the moment and staying present, I am allowing the mark making to be as authentic as possible as I am compelled to capture the essence of Nature’. Santie

Exhibition History

Exhibition Hitory 2016 - 23

2023
November 'Evoke' solo exhibition with an opening at Sakura Sanctuary then Deciduus and Santie.

June 'Taupo Art Trail' Kings Birthday Weekend

2022
October - Rejoining Inspirit Gallery, Cambridge
Group Show (Deciduus & Santie | June)
Group Show (Hospice Orewa Fundraiser | June)

2021
Solo Show 'Whispers of the Heart' - The Mandarin Tree. (Online due to Covid)
Photographic Show 'Pause & Reflect' - Deciduus & Santie (Online due to Covid)
Birthday Show - 'Walk with Me' at Deciduus & Santie - Tirau NZ.

2020
Duo Show 'Rhythm in Form' with Diane Parker - Deciduus & Santie, Tirau, NZ.
Group Show 'Monochrome' - The Mandarin Tree, Gordonton, NZ.
Solo Show 'Fragile Lands' - Quirky Fox, Hawera, NZ (went online due to COVID)

2019
Duo Show 'Echo' with Claudia Aalderink - The Mandarin Tree, Gordonton NZ.
Group Show 'Land & Sea' - Deciduus & Santie, Tirau NZ
Group Show 'Lepus Fantasticus' - Deciduus & Santie, Tirau NZ
Duo Show 'Connections' with Diane Parker - Deciduus & Santie, Tirau NZ.

2018
Group Show 'Joy' - Deciduus & Santie, Tirau NZ.
Group Show '12 Artists for Christmas' - Quirky Fox, Hawera NZ.
Group Show 'Awakening' - Deciduus & Santie, Tirau NZ.
Group Show 'The Forest Floor' - Deciduus & Santie, Tirau NZ.
Gallery Inaugural Show 'Nature' - Deciduus & Santie, Tirau NZ.
Opened Deciduus & Santie - 5 May 2018 - Tirau, New Zealand.

2017
Solo Show - 'A Gentleman's Delight' - Inspirit Gallery, Cambridge NZ.
Group Show - Quirky Fox Gallery.
Open Studios 'Cambridge Autumn Festival' - Cambridge NZ

2016
Solo Show 'Owl and Pussycat' - The Garden Art Studio, Cambridge NZ

Exhibition History 2008-15

2015
Artist Studio Show 'Winged Tapestries' - Cambridge NZ

2014
Opened Santie Cronje Artist Studio in Cambridge - a working space that was open to the public.
Solo Show 'The Language of Flowers' - The Framing Workshop, Hamilton NZ.
Solo Show 'The Travelling Tulip' - Soul Gallery, Hamilton NZ.

2013
Group Show - Kina Gallery, New Plymouth NZ.
Artist Wall - New Zealand Art Show - Wellington NZ.
Solo Show 'Through Innocent eyes' - Soul Gallery, Hamilton NZ.

2012
Duo Show 'Of Paint and Clay' with Aaron Scythe - Inspirit Gallery, Cambridge NZ.
Artist Wall 'New Zealand Art Show' - Wellington NZ.
Solo Show 'Close to my Heart' - Soul Gallery NZ.
Group Show 'Spinning a yarn' - Inspirit Gallery, Cambridge NZ.

2011
Four Artist Show 'Four Hands tickle me pink' - The Artist's Room, Dunedin.
Three Artist Show 'Something Dreamlike' - Matakana Gallery, Matakana NZ.
Group Show 'Grass Roots' - Inspirit Gallery, Cambridge NZ
Solo Show 'Return to you' - Inspirit Gallery, Cambridge NZ
New Zealand Artshow - Wellington NZ

2010
Show 'Endangered' - Inspirit Gallery, Cambridge NZ.
Three Artist Show 'Three Birds and a Feather' - Inspirit Gallery, Cambridge NZ

2009
Solo Show 'If Godwits couldn't fly' - Inspirit Gallery, Cambridge NZ

2008
Solo Show 'Creative Journeys' - Empire Gallery, Cambridge NZ.
Group Show 'Coasting 2008' - Waikato Artspost, Hamilton NZ.