Bettie Cilliers, famous SA painter, is born

The artist in the Atelier Jean-Paul Pons, Paris, November 1964

Date: 18 Nov 1914
Updated: 18 Nov 2025

Bettie Cilliers-Barnard, famed SA painter and mother of actress Jana Celliers was born in Rustenburg, Transvaal. Though Cilliers-Bernard was at one time one of South Africa's underestimated artists, her contribution in helping young artists and her overall worldwide exposure during a time when only a few of our artists ventured outside the country, placed her between the top achievers. She has worked consistently all the time and was part of a unique group of artists who even in 1959 had an exhibition of non-figurative art, which was rather progressive for the time. She comes from the same era as some of our greatest old masters but was so futuristic in her style that she only in later years got the recognition she deserved.

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01Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau; Hayes, S. (ed)(2000). Who's Who of Southern Africa 2001 ..., Graighall: Jonathan Ball.
02vgallary,'Jana Celliers was born'[Online] Available at:www.vgallery.co.za[Accessed 11 October 2013]

Last updated · 18 Nov 2025

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Bettie Cilliers, famous SA painter, is born . South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011373

South African History Online (2011) 'Bettie Cilliers, famous SA painter, is born ', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011373 (Accessed: 17 September 2026).

South African History Online, Bettie Cilliers, famous SA painter, is born [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011373, (accessed 17 September 2026).

"Bettie Cilliers, famous SA painter, is born ." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011373. Accessed 17 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "Bettie Cilliers, famous SA painter, is born ." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011373.