Artist Database

Kirsten Sims is a painter and illustrator currently living and working in Cape Town. She holds a BA in Applied Design from the Stellenbosch Academy (2011) and an Honours in Illustration from Stellenbosch University (2014). Her works are narrative scenes filled with lively characters and humour. However, she also depicts serene landscapes and playful portraits. Above everything, place is the predominant theme in her work – either real or imaginary.

Sims has exhibited locally and internationally, including solo shows in Cape Town and Toronto, Canada. She has collaborated with Good Clothing, Honest Chocolate, and 50ty/50ty. Sims has produced illustrations for Airbnb, The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Anthropolgie. Her first children’s book, Balthazar the Great, was published in 2016.