Art

10 Artworks By Elzahn Nel

elzahn nel

WORDS Michaela Stehr IMAGES via @elzahn_art on Instagram

South African artist Elzahn Nel, who lives and works in Bangkok, creates gestural line drawings of the human form.

In her work, which consists predominantly of line drawings or installation pieces, Elzahn focuses on themes such as masculinity, identity and control within imagined communities.

Elzahn will soon be launching an online shop at elzahnnel.com/shop.

Here are 10 examples of her work:

View this post on Instagram

“Greg in a housedress talking about Suriashi.” This man is a big, strong (previously professional) ballet dancer, but there was fragility in this pose. I felt as if he was coming to terms with his own body touching it in a way almost as if he was rediscovering what it had become and embracing that reality.. This could all be a crock of shit of course, because we always bring our own experiences to what we interpret. Sometimes I wish I can clear my mind for a second and observe what it would be like to observe WITHOUT my preconceived ideas, but I guess that would be robotic observation… would interpretation even be possible?Too much for a Sunday morning? . . . . . . . . . . #atelier #blackandwhite #elzahnnel #laelle #inthehouseofelle #wonderings #southafricanartist #artistinbangkok #ladygagaoutfits #bangkokcity #linework ##pendrawing #drawing #contour #pussyriot #nudeart #forms #sexualpolitics #stayhomesaveslives #blue #oneofakind #stayalert #minimalism #oneline #kunst #saatchitakeover #installationart

A post shared by Mademoiselle ELLE (@elzahn_art) on

View this post on Instagram

I fucking looove this drawing. It’s true. 🎀 I took this photo of @nielneet in Japan last year. It’s the combination of drawing my favourite person, simple lines and the colour light blue which I’m crushing on right now. I loved the pose so much that I drew it twice, one in full colour and this one with more white space. (Colour version in my Fauve Story ☝🏼) . . . . . . . . . . #atelier #blackandwhite #elzahnnel #laelle #inthehouseofelle #droppingwords #southafricanartist #artistinbangkok #bangkokart #bangkokcity #linework ##pendrawing #illustrate #contour #crushingonblue #portraitpainting #forms #drawing #aesthetics #colour #oneofakind #art #minimalism #oneline #kunst #contemporaryart #simplicityiskey

A post shared by Mademoiselle ELLE (@elzahn_art) on

View this post on Instagram

Part 1 of 3. Auntie Viv (that is Vivienne Westwood) talking about saving the world. I’m such a fan. Never realized before this week that I have painted her or one of her models multiple times. It is due to the fabrics, colours and dramatic poses. Im not interested in celebrity portraits- it’s the combo mentioned above that draws me in.. . . . . . . . . . . #artconcept #meettheartist #todaysartreport #laelle #elzahnnel #elzahnart #gouchepainting #studioforart #bangkokart #colouraddict #womenwhowerk #livewithart #curation #figurativepainting #viviennewestwood #pattern #texture #bold #fashionillustration #paintingfashion #thoseshoes #passion #inthehouseofelle #southafricanartist #artistinbangkok #style #vintage

A post shared by Mademoiselle ELLE (@elzahn_art) on

For more information, visit elzahnnel.com and follow @elzahn_art on Instagram to keep up to date.

Tags:

Other articles that might interest you

Art


Zanele Muholi Wins the 2026 Hasselblad Award

Art


Inside Spier Light Art 2026