“Charley, the Elephant” – Original Watercolour Painting
R1,400.00
🎨 Mandela Day 2025 Limited Edition Series
This A3 (297 x 420mm) original artwork is painted in watercolour on 300gsm artist-grade paper and is priced at R1,400.
Out of stock
The eighth painting in the Mandela Day 2025 collection tells the story of an elephant who waited decades for the life he was meant to live.
Taken from the wild in 1982, Charley spent his youth performing in a circus before being transferred to the Pretoria Zoo, where he endured over 20 years in solitary confinement, behind barriers, surrounded by concrete. He paced. He waited. And he was never forgotten.
For years, the NSPCA fought for his release: A battle against bureaucracy, resistance, and delay. And in 2024, it finally happened: Charley was relocated to Shambala Private Game Reserve. There, for the first time in decades, he felt the earth under his feet, the wind in his ears, and the presence of other elephants.
His journey isn’t over. But now, it’s moving forward.
In this artwork by Art by Mareli, Charley stands not just for himself, but for every wild animal still waiting behind walls. Every soul still pacing. Every life still in limbo.
🖼️ All proceeds support the NSPCA’s continued fight for captive wildlife across South Africa.
Be part of the change, bring Charley’s story into your space.
