Dr Marion Arnold is a well-known artist, author and art historian. Arnold was born in the United Kingdom and raised in Zimbabwe before completing her studies in South Africa – including her PhD. Alongside her artistic practice and writing career, Arnold has also worked and continues to work as a lecturer at various institutions in South Africa and abroad. She currently lives and works in the United Kingdom where she holds a lectureship at the Loughborough University’s School of the Arts.
Within her practice, Arnold works in a variety of media including oil paint, watercolour, pastel and print. Her style is one defined by simplified forms, an expressive use of bright, playful colours, and distinct patterning. In terms of her subject matter, much of Arnold’s output depicts landscapes, reflective of her interest in and concern for the environment. More specifically, a major source of inspiration for the artist is the Matopo Hills which lie within the Motobo National Park, Zimbabwe. A recurring motif throughout the artist’s oeuvre is that of the Park’s famous balancing rock formations.
Arnold’s works are held in collections throughout South Africa, including at the Rupert Museum, Stellenbosch and the UCT Works of Art Collection (WOAC), Cape Town. Amongst her many publications are the Irma Stern monograph, Irma Stern: A Feast for the Eye (1995) and Women and Art in South Africa (1996).
