What’s in a name? Pick your fave — from a stunning Table Mountain viewpoint to a petite staircase in a dome, Lady Lu’s 3D art has so much to offer the viewer.
The hosts at Somerset View Guest House are honoured that Lady Lu has chosen their building as the location for her first art exhibition in Cape Town. To learn more about her art career and what inspired her stunning artworks, we have asked her a few questions. Read on for our conversation below:
Your works are so uniquely beautiful! How has your style and approach changed over the years since you first began?
— A lot of things have changed. As the years went by, I started using simpler and more practical methods that yield the same results. In the beginning, I sculpted with Polyfilla, which sometimes took a week to dry enough before I could work with it. Today, I use Styrofoam and more natural materials.
2. What inspired you to use 3D mediums specifically instead of two-dimensional elements when expressing yourself in your art?
— I have always loved art that you don't see every day. I was inspired by being able to stand in front of a portrait and gasp in awe because the 3D format has so much depth and emotion. I can get lost in the picture, especially because it offers so much more than just 2D.
3. Are there any of your works that you favour over others?
— When I first started sculpting, arches and staircases were my favourite subjects. Later on, rustic old doors became a bigger challenge for me, especially because I could incorporate natural metals. At the moment, I'm working on mountains! It offers such a wide variety of options!
4. What makes you prefer some works over others?
— With certain pieces, your hands just work on autopilot and there is less tension in your shoulders. Some days you see a scene out of the car window, or you flip through a book and find the inspiration to give it your own unique identity. It's always great to look at the end result because it never turns out quite like you expected.
5. Over the course of your career, how have your personal life experiences shaped the themes or elements in your art?
— I have a dramatic personality and always fill a picture with colour from edge to edge. My life experiences make up a big part of my work. Ever since I started sculpting, detail has always been very important to me. As your hands become more practiced with your artwork, the various elements have also become more practical and challenging. Pieces I never would have tackled before, I now feel confident taking on.
6. Has your idea of ‘success’ as an artist changed since you first began your career?
— I have never seen myself as a full-fledged “artist.” All my pieces stem from inspiration. To me, beautiful art is "in the eye of the beholder." The only success I truly want is when someone tells me, "That is really beautiful!" That motivates me to keep going.
7. What do you enjoy most about the process? Is it putting the picture together or the smile you see on a customer’s face that brings you the most satisfaction?
— There are three moments that put a smile on my face: that’s when I see an amazing idea, my mind starts scheming, and my fingers start to itch; the moment the final piece is sitting on the table and I know there is absolutely nothing I want to change; and the wonderful moment when a client makes it their own. That brings the climax of all the work and hours spent on a piece.
8. Looking back to the time when you first began your artistic journey, what advice would you give to young artists trying to master 3D art today?
— My advice to any young person who wants to get into 3D sculpting is not to lose the passion to start. Our lives are busy. No matter our age, it is always possible to do something creative. With 3D sculpting, find a mentor who can show you the guidelines. You'll get the hang of it very quickly and then just burst with your ideas. Don't take on an idea that's too difficult right away—it breaks your self-confidence and makes you quit. Enjoy the little things around you and start by sculpting simple objects like a chair or a ball. Perfection only comes years later. I wish I were there already.
Thank you so much for your time, and we are looking forward to seeing you again at the exhibition!
[We invite you to come and meet Lady Lu and see her breathtaking artwork in person — we assure you that it is definitely worth the visit! Bites to eat and drinks will also be served on site. We look forward to seeing you there!]
Date: 29 August, 2026
Time: 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
Location: Somerset View Guest House
Contact: Emsie 082 612 5501
