Cornelius Petrus (CP) Wessels

Cornelius Petrus “CP” Wessels is a South African designer and sculptor known for his custom steelwork and public art. A former filmmaker and brief architecture student at the University of Natal, he shifted into art and design and co-founded Artvark Gallery in 1991 in Johannesburg with artist Theresa Jo Wessels. The gallery later relocated to Kalk Bay in 1998, where Artvark’s gallery and steelworks studio were established.

Working primarily in sculptural steel, CP designs and produces wall panels, security gates, burglar bars and balustrades that function both as security elements and as artworks. His pieces are deliberately designed to interact with natural light, casting shifting silhouettes over the course of the day.

Much of his imagery is inspired by the Cape mountains and fynbos, and he has created well-known works like “Protea Bush” and “Common Ground”, which reinterpret the iconic protea and fire-scorched landscapes as interconnected cultural meshes. His steelworks feature in several public art commissions in South Africa, including installations at Green Point Stadium Track A, Knightsbridge, Century City, and public sculpture exhibitions in Stellenbosch.