FILIA VAN DER HOVEN (NÉE THERON) (c. 1925 – c. 2020)
The Protest March
1990
oil on board
92 x 64 cm
BIOGRAPHY
Filia van der Hoven (née Theron) was an artist, pianist and teacher, and a beloved figure in Kidd’s Beach in the Eastern Cape, where she lived for decades.
Van der Hoven is recognised in several publications, including The Collector’s Guide to Art and Artists in South Africa, as one of the Eastern Cape’s most significant painters. Her work explored themes ranging from the female form to faith, often shaped by a deep sense of social justice.
She remained artistically active into her Eighties, spending more than two years in Paris, with the support of the South African Arts Foundation, during which time she painted prolifically. Even after losing her sight, she continued to make art.
A teacher, a mentor and a friend to many, she was also a gifted pianist who taught music from her home, opening her doors to local children eager to learn.
Van der Hoven died during the COVID-19 pandemic, when lockdowns and gathering restrictions prevented her community from giving her a proper farewell. In December 2025, her son Pierre opened Filia’s Place, an art gallery, coffee shop and indigenous plant nursery, at the entrance to Kidd’s Beach in the home where she raised her family and taught generations of children.