The Batha Group consists of the iconic Gerhard Batha, his daughter, Leila Batha and his son, Luke Batha. Two generations of the Batha family come together in this exhibition as the viewers are presented with the visual and intellectual spectacle of such closely associated artists producing such a diverse body of work.   

Gerhard Batha was born in Vienna, Austria in 1937. He studied there at the Graphic School, specializing in painting, reproduction and stone engraving. He came to South Africa in 1969 and became a well-respected and highly-collectable artist, known for his energetic use of colour, diverse techniques and his handle on a variety of mediums. 

Luke Batha was born in 1984 in Johannesburg. Luke considers himself privileged to have grown up in a creative family, full of artists and designers. Gerhard encouraged Luke’s artistic talent from a young age without imposing his own ideas upon his son. Luke’s loose and expressive brushstrokes are a reflection of his maturity and experience with the paintbrush.

Leila Batha was born in Johannesburg in 1982. Being surrounded by and growing up with art, Leila was also subjected to potent artistic inspiration from a young age. Her artwork has a more polished aesthetic, in comparison to Luke’s work and some of Gerhard’s, with a more immaculate finish.

The artistic streak in the Batha family is manifested in THE BATHA GROUP in a way that highlights the individuality and uniqueness of each talented family member.