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One of my absolute favorite artists PAUL DU TOIT passed away last Thursday and I was devastated to say the least. I met Paul years ago when I was invited to visit him in his Cape Town studio. Artists studios are their sacred spaces, so I was thrilled, but also very nervous. I didn’t need to be because from the moment I walked through the door Paul greeted me with a warm and infectious smile and he proceeded to answer every question I had about his art, his artistic process and his life’s inspirations.

Over the years we’ve stayed in touch and when I mentioned that I worked with inner city kids, Paul thought it would be a great idea if he spent a week teaching them about art. That’s the kind of person Paul was there was no ego or thought that he was an international artist of high regard, he felt it was important that under privileged kids should be educated about art and he was going to teach them.

Last year when Paul’s wife, Lorette told us that Paul had a rare form of cancer somehow I just knew he would overcome it just as he had all the other challenges in his life, but alas it was not meant to be. A bright and shining star has dimmed.

Rest in peace, Paul. You will be missed.

Paul du Toit
October 31, 1965 – January 9, 2014