Privacy policy
Last updated: 31 October 2026
This policy explains what personal information Karen Wykerd collects through this website and her communications, why, who handles it and what your rights are under South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
Who is responsible
Karen Wykerd, a visual artist in Cape Town, South Africa, is the responsible party for your information and acts as its information officer. You can reach her at art@karenwykerd.com or through the contact page.
What is collected
When you use the contact form: your name, your email address and your message, and which artwork you are asking about, if any. Karen needs these to answer you, so the form cannot be sent without them.
When you email, WhatsApp or message Karen on social media: your name, your address, number or profile, what you write and anything you attach.
If you buy or commission a work: what is needed to complete and deliver the sale, such as your contact and delivery details and a record of the sale.
When you visit this website: which pages you opened and what you clicked on them, the website that sent you here, and a code that changes every day, made from your internet address and browser. Your internet address itself is not kept in these visit records, and they use no cookies.
To keep this website secure: short records of activity, which can include an internet address, and the checks described under Google services below.
Please do not send Karen sensitive information, such as your health details or banking details, in a message. She does not ask for it through this website.
Why it is used
Your information is used to answer you and look after your enquiry, to complete and deliver any sale, to keep ordinary business and tax records, to keep this website secure and to understand how it is used. Karen relies on your consent, on what is needed to deal with your enquiry or sale, on her legal duties and on her legitimate interest in running a secure website.
News and marketing
Your information is not sold, and you will not be added to a mailing list because you wrote to Karen. You will only receive news about exhibitions or new work if you have asked for it, and you can stop it at any time by saying so.
Who else handles it
Service providers help run this website and Karen's communications. They handle your information only to provide their services:
- the company that hosts this website
- the service that delivers this website's email
- the company that provides Karen's mailbox
- the service that reports technical errors on this website, which can receive details of the request that went wrong
- Google, as described below
- the web developer who looks after this website
If you ask about a work shown by a gallery, or buy one, Karen may share what is needed with that gallery and with whoever delivers the work. Her accountant or legal adviser may see records when needed, and information is given to the authorities when the law requires it.
If you contact Karen on WhatsApp, Facebook or Instagram, or use a share button, that service handles your information under its own privacy policy.
Google services
The contact form is protected against spam by Google reCAPTCHA, which sends Google information about your device and how you use the page. Its use is governed by Google's privacy policy and terms.
This website also uses Google Analytics to show how it is used, but only if you accept it. See Cookies below.
Information sent outside South Africa
Some of these providers, including Google, email services and the error-reporting service, store information outside South Africa. Karen uses providers that protect personal information to a standard similar to POPIA's. By contacting Karen, you agree that your information may be handled this way to answer you.
Cookies
This website uses a few cookies it needs to work, which keep your visit secure and remember settings such as your display preference. Your cookie choice is kept in your browser.
Google Analytics sets its own cookies and loads only if you press Accept. If you press Reject, or your browser sends a Global Privacy Control signal, it does not load. You can change your choice at any time with the Cookie settings link at the bottom of each page.
How long it is kept
Your information is kept only for as long as it is needed:
- messages and enquiries: until they are no longer needed to deal with your enquiry or for ordinary record keeping, and you can ask for them to be deleted sooner
- records of a sale: for at least five years, as tax law requires
- detailed visit records: about 90 days, after which only overall totals remain
- the log of emails sent by this website: about 30 days
- security records: about 90 days, and up to a year for changes made in the website's admin area
Backups are replaced regularly, so deleted information can remain in one for a short time.
Keeping it safe
Reasonable steps are taken to protect your information, including encrypted connections and limited access. No website or email is completely secure. If your information is accessed without permission, you and the Information Regulator will be told as POPIA requires.
Your rights
You may ask whether Karen holds personal information about you and to see it, and ask for it to be corrected or deleted. You may also object to how it is used, or withdraw your consent, though this does not affect what was done before. To do so, please write to art@karenwykerd.com.
If you are unhappy with how your information is handled, you may complain to the Information Regulator of South Africa.
Children
This website is meant for adults. If you are under 18, please ask a parent or guardian before sending Karen your details.
Changes to this policy
This policy may change from time to time. The version on this page is the one that applies.