Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Berni Searle studied at the Michaelis School of Fine Art at the University of Cape Town. She gained international recognition for her practice, which frequently centers on the body as a site for investigating personal and collective histories within the South African context.

Her signature work often involves the use of materials such as spices, water, and gold leaf to create immersive, performative installations. Through these mediums, she addresses complex issues surrounding vulnerability, displacement, and the construction of identity, often positioning herself as the primary subject within her lens-based compositions.

Searle continues to be recognized for her contributions to contemporary art, with her work held in major international collections. Her practice remains focused on the intersection of personal experience and broader social memory, utilizing the visual language of film and photography to interrogate the legacies of place and belonging.