During the early 1990’s in South Africa, Tertia decided to focus on sculpture; including realistic figurines of real life characters from day to day life in the South African context. This was because she felt compelled to express the power of ordinary lives.

AB Thomas was such a man. Busking as a jazz trumpeter at the V & A Waterfront in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, Thomas had stolen the hearts of locals and international visitors.

In similar style she sculpted a flower seller in 1992.

She also painted people in rural settings.