Nicky Marais (b. 1962, Namibia) is a distinguished Namibian artist, educator, and activist. Marais is known for her abstract artworks that draw from both the everyday and the socio-political history of Namibia, as well as icons from across the African continent. Her distinctive visual language is rooted in a personal vocabulary of abstract forms and color relationships, which she explores through a combination of stencils and traditional painting techniques. Marais describes her practice as a “constant hunt for significant shapes,” which she then subjects to near-obsessive repetition, reappearing in varied combinations throughout her work. This exploration often delves into the dynamic interplay between the physical and spiritual realms, exploring the relationship between the tangible and intangible, the signifier and the signified.

In 2019, Marais retired after an eleven-year posting as the Head of the Department of Visual Arts at the College of the Arts in Windhoek. In early 2023, she relocated to the small southern Namibian town of Oranjemund, where her new environment has significantly influenced her recent work.

Over her extensive career, Marais has exhibited widely both locally and internationally. Her solo exhibition ‘Presence in Absence’ was held at the National Art Gallery of Namibia in 2017. This was followed by ‘Connections‘, showcased at Guns & Rain Gallery in Johannesburg in 2020. Marais’ most recent solo exhibition, ‘Bearings’, was held at the National Art Gallery of Namibia in June 2024. In 2022, she participated in the Baker’s Bay Artists’ Retreat Exhibition in Oranjemund and served as a judge for the Emerging Painters Invitational. A recent group exhibition ‘Slow Burn’ was presented by SMAC Gallery in Stellenbosch in 2025. 

Collections: National Art Gallery of Namibia, British Council (Namibia), Goethe-Institut (Namibia), Standard Bank (Namibia), University of Namibia, Omuntu Gardens (Namibia), Museum Würth (Germany), Arts Association Heritage Trust (Namibia), Tulipamwe International Artists Workshop Collection (Namibia), OMDis Town Transform Agency (Namibia), Namdeb (Namibia), Collection of the Government of the Republic of Namibia, Private Collections: UK, Namibia, USA, Germany, South Africa, Kenya, Australia, Austria, France, Italy, Denmark, Finland.