“Apartheid” – Still Life with Peppers

The inspiration for this painting came directly from everyday life — the supermarket’s produce aisle. Sometimes something as ordinary as peppers can move an artist by their colour, sheen or shape. Anne Jurjen (Ajo) Oppedijk saw not just vegetables, but sculptures of light and shadow.

Technique: Oil on panel
Artist: Anne Jurjen (Ajo) Oppedijk
Image size: 59 × 49 cm
Framed size: 61 × 51 cm

This work is an ode to simplicity: beauty lies in what surrounds us every day — if you take the time to truly look. With his characteristic realistic brushwork, Anne Jurjen (Ajo) captures not only the image, but the silence behind it. The title “Apartheid” subtly refers to the space between the objects, which nevertheless coexist in harmony — much like life itself.

About the artist

Born in Sneek (1984) and based in Haarlem, Anne Jurjen (Ajo) Oppedijk combines his work as a bus driver with a growing career as a painter. His realistic still lifes render everyday objects with a near-tangible presence through light, calm and paint. His works are sought after by collectors at home and abroad.

“Art doesn’t have to be loud to make an impact — in simplicity lies depth.”

Read more about the artist in his full biography of Ajo Oppedijk.
Available exclusively at MyPainting.nl.