Art gallery under the trees: The Tina Skukan Gallery

Founder and owner of the Tina Skukan Art Gallery, Thea Nigrini

Nestled on the side of a koppie (hill) to the east of Pretoria is a unique art gallery under a grove of trees.

Started some 16 years ago by Croatian-born Thea Nigrini and named for her late mother, the Tina Skukan Gallery is as individual as its founder.

Thea has been living on the plot (small holding) on which the gallery is situated for more than 40 years, since her mother gave it to her when she was 20.

Passionately interested in art, Thea decided to do something with her love of art and make it into a life’s work – she has made art a business, but with very human dimensions and a decidedly rustic feel in the midst of the bustling suburbia that is Faerie Glen, a elatively-upmarket suburb of Pretoria.

The plot actually forms part of the Bronberg Nature Reserve and is blessed with abundant bird life and an eclectic selection of trees under which one is likely to come across surprises and delights for the eye.

Thea came to South Africa in 1953 with her parents and sister after fleeing the war in Croatia, East Germany and West Germany.She studied at the University of Pretoria and wanted to practice art herself, but ultimately found it more rewarding to assist other artists by providing a conducive exhibition space.

One of the exhibition spaces

The menu is always enticing

After being involved in another retaurant venture she also started a tea garden at the gallery but has since, after doing all the cooking and baking herself, decided to concentrate on the art and leave the catering to another person.