Garden Route-inspired artwork to go on show in Switzerland

The landscapes, wildlife and coastal environment of South Africa's Garden Route are among the influences behind a new art exhibition opening in Switzerland on 15 November 2026. The exhibition marks the return of Plettenberg Bay artist Marcelle Heller to Erlinsbach, the Swiss town she called home for 24 years.

Opening at Galerie am Bach, the exhibition will introduce Swiss audiences to Heller's latest work, created during a chapter of her life that has seen her settle in South Africa and develop her artistic practice.

Having left Switzerland in 2012, Heller travelled extensively and spent several years living in France before making Plettenberg Bay her home in 2020. The move brought new influences into her work, particularly the natural environment, light, ocean and wildlife of the Garden Route.

Working with colour, form and texture, she creates pieces that interpret rather than simply reproduce the natural world. Her approach combines elements of nature with personal experience, while her background in interior architecture informs her understanding of structure and composition.

"Plettenberg Bay has given me the space and inspiration to explore my art in a completely different way. The colours, the light, the ocean and the incredible natural beauty around me have all found their way into my work. It feels very special to take a little piece of my life here in South Africa back to Switzerland, to a place that was my home for so many years," says Heller.

Her artistic interests began in childhood, growing up in a creative family in Switzerland. She later studied interior architecture and psychology, and counts Friedensreich Hundertwasser and Antoni Gaudí among her artistic influences.

Before relocating, she also enjoyed a successful professional career in Switzerland, including several years heading the Aargau Cancer League in Aarau.

From international exhibition to local arts development

While developing her own work, Heller has become an active contributor to Plettenberg Bay's growing arts community.

As Treasurer and board member of the Plettenberg Bay Arts Association, she has helped create opportunities for local artists to exhibit their work and reach new audiences.

She played a leading role in The White House Collection, a curated exhibition presented by the Association during the 2026 Plett ARTS Festival. The exhibition brought together selected artists and attracted buyers, with 23 artworks sold for a combined R157,980.

Plettenberg Bay Arts Association Chairperson Jill Forbes says Heller's international exhibition is an achievement worth celebrating.

"Marcelle puts an enormous amount of time and energy into creating opportunities for other artists, particularly through her work on The White House Collection. We are so pleased to see her own art reaching an international audience and wish her every success with this exhibition," says Forbes.

The exhibition at Galerie am Bach opens on Sunday, 15 November 2026, at 11:00, with Heller attending in person to discuss her work and her artistic practice in South Africa.

The opening address will be delivered by former member of the cantonal government Ernst Hasler, with musical accompaniment by Bern-based musician Markus Aerni.

The exhibition runs until 13 December 2026.

Exhibition details

Opening: Sunday, 15 November 2026, 11:00

Venue: Galerie am Bach, Hauptstrasse 90, 5015 Erlinsbach, Switzerland

Closing event: Sunday, 13 December 2026

Further information:

www.marcelleheller.ch
www.galerieambach.ch
www.plettart.co.za