Preller, Karin

Karin Preller (b. 1962) is a Johannesburg-based artist and academic who transitioned to fine arts after a career in law. She holds a PhD from the University of Johannesburg and previously lectured in Art History.

Her practice explores the complex relationship between painting, photography, and memory. Working from personal archives, including 1960s family snapshots and home movies, Preller creates meticulously rendered oil paintings that capture the “haunting and strange” within the banal. Her work investigates how time and mediation fragment personal narratives. A recipient of the 2022 Kanna Award, her work is held in major collections, including the Johannesburg Art Gallery and Standard Bank.