WORLD BUILDER • STORYTELLER

South African artist, with roots in France currently living in Netherlands. As a storyteller, I create portals into worlds.

At present my practice is rooted in fibre art, where i create handmade tapestries and rugs using a tufting gun. My style draws on both abstract expressionism and symbolic, graphic motifs.

Born in Cape Town, South Africa (1984), my early years were enriched by the nature, vivid palette and cultures of the Western Cape as well as the enchanted woodlands of the Lot region in France. We moved around a lot travelling between France and South Africa. Working with tapestries and rugs represents home and grounding.

While currently primarily working with wool as a fiber artist. I work across a spectrum of mediums including; picture book illustration, large scale painted murals, printmaking, pastel drawing, poetry and verse, handmade toys, and miniature diorama puppet shows.

I also work under the pseudonym Tonton—a name lovingly given to me by my niece and nephew, meaning “uncle” in French. Tonton embodies the whimsical, childlike spirit that often guides my hand—particularly in my illustration and storytelling work.

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Maximillian Goldin, b. Cape Town, South Africa, October 1984, currently residing in Utrecht, Netherlands. Degree in Graphic Design from the AAA School of Advertising, Cape Town. 2006.