Renowned Artist Jill Trappler to Feature on The Business of Entertainment, CapeTalk

Renowned Artist Jill Trappler to Feature on The Business of Entertainment, CapeTalk – Thursday, 18 September, 9pm

Cape Town-based artist and cultural activist Jill Trappler will be in studio on The Business of Entertainment this Thursday, 18 September, just after 9pm. With a career spanning more than three decades, Trappler is celebrated not only for her paintings and solo exhibitions but also for her groundbreaking contributions to South Africa’s arts community.

Since the 1980s, Trappler has been at the forefront of transformative creative initiatives. She co-founded Thupelo and Greatmore Studios, was a key member of the Bag Factory in Johannesburg, and has served on the boards of the AVA Gallery and the National Arts Council. Deeply committed to community upliftment, she established the Philani Weaving Project and Intle Cooperative in Khayelitsha and Philippi, while also nurturing creative healing through the Valkenberg Art Studio initiative.

Her projects reflect a lifelong ethos of collaboration, where art becomes a tool for empowerment, confidence building, and social cohesion. Known for her patience and her ability to bridge languages and generations, Trappler has created employment opportunities and nurtured creative growth throughout the Cape Peninsula.

As a painter, she explores texture, mark-making, and colour with a sensitivity informed by her background as a weaver and spinner. Her work, shown nationally and internationally, reflects her immersion in both South Africa’s complex social landscape and its natural environments.

From the Drakensberg mountains to Johannesburg’s cultural ferment of the 1970s, and Cape Town’s dynamic arts scene today, Trappler’s journey has shaped a practice rooted in interaction, education, and creative exchange.

Jill lives by a motto inspired by the wisdom of trees: “Stand tall and proud, go out on a limb, remember your roots, drink plenty of water, be content with your natural beauty, and enjoy the view.” This philosophy flows through her work and community initiatives, offering listeners a rare opportunity to hear from an artist whose life and practice embody resilience, beauty, and grounded creativity.

Don’t miss Jill Trappler in conversation on The Business of Entertainment, CapeTalk, this Thursday, 18 September, just after 9pm.