Born in the Overberg in the Western Cape, South Africa, in 1974, Tertius van Dyk is a contemporary surrealist painter whose work is inspired by the vast landscapes of Southern Africa and the coastal environment of his hometown, Hermanus. Although his passion for art began early in life, he established himself as a professional artist later, developing a distinctive visual language that has earned his work recognition in galleries and private collections both locally and internationally.

Working primarily in acrylic and mixed media on large-scale canvas, van Dyk creates meticulously detailed dreamscapes in which familiar elements are reimagined in unexpected ways. Solitary trees, weathered shipwrecks, whales, celestial moons and rugged geological formations appear together within expansive, often desert-like landscapes that exist somewhere between reality and imagination. Drawing on his fascination with nature and the passage of time, his paintings invite viewers into quiet, contemplative worlds where symbolism and atmosphere take precedence over narrative.