Berco Wilsenach

Berco Wilsenach (b. 1974) is a South African artist known for his innovative exploration of diverse materials. He earned his BA (Fine Arts) in 1996 and MA (Fine Arts) in 2002 from the University of Pretoria. Furthering his studies in Italy and Germany, supported by governmental bursaries, took him to the Accademia di Belli Arte in Genova (2004) and Kunstakademie Düsseldorf (2005-2006).

Wilsenach's recent works primarily use glass, highlighting its fragility, transparency, and interaction with light. His creations often involve stacked or layered glass sheets, creating dynamic forms that reflect the ethereality of natural phenomena. His art responds to the urgent climate crisis, emphasizing the documentation of the disappearing natural world.

His works have been showcased in numerous solo and group exhibitions both locally and internationally, including the Pretoria Art Museum, Palazzo Ducale in Genoa, and the Smithsonian Institute's Museum for African Art in Washington D.C. He received a four-year grant from the Spier Arts Trust Patronage Program to complete the "Project for the Blind Astronomer" (2009-2013), exhibited at the Museum of African Design in Johannesburg. Wilsenach has also won several awards, including the PPC Young Sculptor's Award (1997) and the ABSA L'Atelier (2005). Currently, Wilsenach is a part-time lecturer at the University of Pretoria and conducts workshops at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf.