Ann-Marie Ellman van Rhyn

Short Bio

Ann-Marie Ellmann is a multidisciplinary professional with expertise spanning architecture, sustainable design, film production, and creative expression. With a Master's in Philosophy of Research from the University of Cape Town (UCT), and a Bachelor of Architectural Studies (UCT), Ann-Marie brings a deep understanding of both theory and practice across various fields.

As a passionate educator, she served as a lecturer at UCT's Construction Economics and Management Department, designing and convening courses on architecturally related subjects such as regenerative sustainable and ecological design, construction and building technology. Her research interest includes ecological regenerative sustainability in the built environment, natural and traditional building methods, innovation in building design, gender, and occupant satisfaction and spatiality in architecture.

In recent years,  Ann-Marie has made significant contributions to the film industry and has built a strong reputation as a props master and art director, contributing to major projects such as TVCs for LG, PEP, and McDonald's, as well as art direction for short films like Dirty Knees. Her work also extends to set design, sourcing props, and graphic design, with an impressive portfolio of collaborations across multiple production teams with renowned production teams across numerous commercials and films.

As the co-founder of LEvR Creations(architectural practice), she has designed and managed various architectural projects, including sustainable designs like the Waaipoort farm and other eco-conscious builds. As a derivative of LEvR Creations she  also co-founded Airborneroots, focusing on the growth of tillandsias and miniature orchids to enhance indoor environmental quality.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, she is a committed artist, expressing creativity through painting, sculpture, and illustration, with works displayed at prestigious venues like Zeitz MOCAA and Gallery One Eleven.

Selected Publications

• DECEMBER 2024: Ellmann, A. (2024) Refugee, in An anthology of non-conformism, Eds. E. Amoo-Adare & R. Siriwardane-de Zoysa, DIO Press, New York, p 91 - 94
• FEBRUARY 2023: paper and poster for the UNIVERSITAT POLITÈCNICA DE VALÈNCIA's EXCO20 scientific exhibition titled “A discussion on how South African women architects experience gendered narratives in their professional trajectories. "
• JANUARY 2023: Moghayedi, A., Phiri, C., & Ellmann, A. M. (2023). Improving sustainability of affordable housing using innovative technologies: Case study of SIAH-Livable. Scientific African, 21, Article e01819. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2023.e01819. Available from https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11005663
• SEPTEMBER 2020: UCT Teaching & Learning conference paper and online presentation: Ontong, K., Ellmann, A. and Ordor, U. (2020) Exploring flexible learning as a cybergogical approach in two courses in the CEM department, 2020 Online UCT Teaching & Learning conference, University of Cape Town, Cape Town,  South Africa
• DECEMBER 2019: paper and poster for the UNIVERSITAT POLITÈCNICA DE VALÈNCIA's EXCO20 scientific exhibition taking place in February 2020 entitled "Gender (in)equality: Challenging gender norms in sub-Saharan Africa’s households and built environment:  Women building their own homes in rural and urban environments"

Project Description

"Who is Lucy!?! African Wo|Mxn Native|Other  " is a collaborative, decolonial feminist art project that explores the complexities of identity, race, and belonging through the lens of African heritage. Co-created by Dr Epifania Amoo-Adare and Ms Ann-Marie Ellmann, the project aims to disrupt traditional notions of art and knowledge creation, positioning them as relational, collective processes rather than individual, solitary acts. The work is structured around a series of interventions, including the curation of autobiographical found objects—artworks, letters, photographs—and the collection of diverse opinions through cognitive mapping exercises, where participants are asked, “Who is African?”

The project evolves into an immersive, sensory art installation that engages all five senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Participants move through the installation, interacting with audiovisual projections, fabrics, culinary offerings, and sensory elements to question their own understanding of African identity. By invoking these multisensory experiences, the installation dismantles binary thinking and explores the intersections of race, gender, and colonial histories.

Through this participatory process, the project examines the shifting definitions of "African" and "woman" within the colonial matrix of power, reflecting on both historical and contemporary interpretations. Ultimately, "Who is Lucy!?!" seeks to provide a platform for dialogue, challenging stereotypes and offering a space for collective (un)learning, with the aim of decolonizing how art, identity, and knowledge are conceived. This is a radical exploration of Africa’s multiplicity, contradictions, and its role in globalizing histories and futures.