BIOGRAPHY
(b. 1953 KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa)
BIOGRAPHY
In her early years, Bronwen Findlay spent most of her time in Kranskop (in the Tugela Valley), Brighton Beach (Durban) and Pietermaritzburg. She now lives and works in Johannesburg. She matriculated at Epworth High School in Pietermaritzburg and then studied Fine Art at what was then the Durban Technikon (Durban Institute of Technology) and the University of Natal (University of KwaZulu-Natal). She received her Master of Arts in Fine Arts and her Higher Diploma in Education from the University of Natal.
Bronwen considers herself both an artist and educationalist. She has taught in schools and universities and has been involved with informal community-based programmes. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and may be seen in public institutions and private homes. She is essentially a painter, but her painterly approach to her subject matter can also be seen in her printmaking and mosaic art.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
My work is informed by spaces I have lived in, places I have been to, things I collect, people I collaborate with. I manipulate paint and colour in response to my subject matter. I like to think that “every picture tells a story” but that each painting exists as its own world.
I try to find beauty in things which might seem insignificant or not of great importance, the ordinary or every day. I have painted domestic objects which may be loaded with cultural connotations – a willow-patterned piece of crockery from my grandmother, enamel tin plates and mugs bought from trading stores. Textiles and cloth have also played an important role in my work – I was influenced by the embroidery and beadwork created by women from the Limpopo province and for a time beaded my paintings with dots of paint. Colour and decoration have always been an important aspect of my painting. This decorative manipulation of paint may also be seen in more recent paintings of South African flora and fauna – while these works are hardly botanical, I hope that they capture a different reality.
JULIA CHARLTON ON BRONWEN FINDLAY
Intense colour, vigorous paint, delight in the decorative and the elevation of the ordinary: these qualities characterize Bronwen Findlay's distinctive vision, which is strongly self-reflexive and personal. She challenges traditionally-held assumptions about hierarchies and value by selecting autobiographical subjects and domestic settings that are often dismissively associated with 'the female realm'. Findlay presents a persuasive argument for the relevance and significance of the everyday, by exploring issues of transience and change through the mechanisms of irony, sentimentality and embellishment, in a powerful affirmation of life.
CURRICULUM VITAE
QUALIFICATIONS
1992-1994
Master of Arts in Fine Art (Cum Laude), University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg
1988-1989 BA Honours (Fine Art) (Cum Laude), University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg
1981
Higher Diploma in Education, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg
1978-1980
Bachelor of Arts: Majored in History and Art History, University of Natal,
Pietermaritzburg
1972
Matriculated Epworth High School
EMPLOYMENT
2017
Part time Lecturer at University of Johannesburg, FADA Department of
Visual Art; contract position in Education, Education Department,
University of the Witwatersrand
2016
Part time Lecturer at University of Johannesburg, FADA Department of
Visual Art
2015
Part time Lecturer at University of Johannesburg, FADA Department of
Visual Art; Replacement Lecturer, University of the Witwatersrand,
Johannesburg in B.Ed. Programme
2014
Part time Lecturer at University of Johannesburg, FADA Department of
Visual Art; Replacement Lecturer, University of the Witwatersrand,
Johannesburg in B.Ed Programme
2013
Part time lecturer in Art in Education, Education Department, University of
the Witwatersrand
2012
Part time lecturer in Art in Education, Education Department, University of
the Witwatersrand; art teacher for Tsogang Basadi women's group,
Ekupholeni, Natalspruit Hospital; part time work with Imbali Visual Literacy
projects, Newtown, Johannesburg
2011
Part time lecturer in Art in Education, Education Department, University of
Witwatersrand; art teacher with Tsogang Basadi women's group,
Ekupholeni, Natalspruit Hospital
2010
Part time Drawing and Design Lecturer at Wits University School of Arts;
Arts Facilitator at Ekupholeni, Natalspruit Hospital; Trainer and Facilitator for
mosaic art work at LEBONE 11 College of the Royal Bafokeng
2009
Part time Drawing Lecturer, University of Johannesburg; Visual Arts
Lecturer, PGCE Course, University of the Witwatersrand; Arts Coordinator
for Women's project, Ekupholeni, Natalspruit Hospital, Katlehong
2008
Part time Drawing Lecturer, University of Johannesburg; Visual Arts
Facilitator for Women and Violence Project, CDP, Johannesburg
2007
Drawing lecturer, first and second year, University of Johannesburg;Visual Arts Facilitator for Women and Violence Project, CDP, Johannesburg; Arts and Culture Workshops for Foundation, Intermediate and Senior Phase Teachers
2005-2006
Contract employment at the University of Johannesburg: Course Leader
of the First and Second Year Drawing Programmes and the Teacher
Training course. Involved in Third Year Studio Practice.
2004
Contract employment at the Wits School of Arts, University of the
Witwatersrand: Coordinator of the Third Year Fine Arts programme and
lecturer in the Visual Literacy Foundation course; part time lecturer in the
Visual Literacy course in the Arts and Culture programme for ACE
teachers, organised by the CDP and held at the Johannesburg College of
Education; taught second year drawing at the Wits Technikon
2002-2003
Contract employment at the University of the Witwatersrand: Taught
Education, Visual Literacy, Painting and Drawing and Design. Involved in
supervision of Masters students; acted as a consultant for the Curriculum
Development Project (CDP) and the Wits School of Arts Partnership
Project
2001-2002
Self employed. Involved in mosaic projects, art workshops and taught
part-time, lecturing at various institutions
2000-2001
Leave replacement lecturer in the Printmaking and Drawing departments at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg
1993-2000
Lecturer at the University of Durban-Westville. Appointed as printmaking
lecturer and taught Painting, Drawing and Printmaking and
Art Theory. Employed at UDW until the closure of the Arts Drama and
Music departments.
1992
While on study leave from Brettonwood High School (completing MAFA)
was employed as part time lecturer in the Fine Art departments at the
Natal Technikon and the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg
1989-1993
Employed as the Art teacher at Brettonwood High School, Durban
1982-1988
Employed as the Art teacher at Mansfield High School, Durban. Taught
History and Art until the closure of the school in 1988.
1977
Taught private art classes, Pietermaritzburg
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Extensive involvement with informal community-based art programmes, including:
2014/2013
Contributed to the Arts Alive project for Imbali Visual Literacy programme.
2011-2012
Continued involvement with art programmes at Ekupholeni,
Natalspruit Hospital.
2010
Continued involvement with art programmes at Ekupholeni, Natalspruit
Hospital. Mosaic skills training at Phokeng with artists from the Royal
Bafokeng community.
2007
Facilitated ‘Paper Prayers’ workshop at Artist Proof studio for teachers.
2004
Worked with Churchill Madikida at Constitution Hill, organised mural
painting project to celebrate Women’s Day and the opening of
Constitution Hill.
2003
Azibuye Emasisweni Cultural and Environment heritage project,
Silethukukhanya High School, Khula Village, Dukaduka; worked with David
Andrew and Joni Brenner – Teacher Training and Community
Development workshop at Phutadijhaba.
2002
Coordinated and taught painting classes for Velobala group,
administered by the African Art Centre, Durban and held at the Natal
Technikon
2001
Conducted a training programme for Embo craft with a group of rural,
unemployed women in the Shongweni Valley.
1999
Facilitated a series of workshops for seventeen schools in KwaZulu-Natal as
part of the ‘Upward Bound programme, University of Durban Westville
1998
Mural Facilitator for murals at new Welfare and Pensions office,
Umbumbulu. Designed and painted murals, assisted by students – Niven
Anghar, Asiya Swaleh and Geeta Ramparsad. Architect: Jenny
Whitehead. Contractors: Allen Brothers. Crafts Council Fair; fabric
painting techniques – slideshow and workshop, Durban Exhibition Centre.
1996
Coordinated and painted interior and exterior of container to be used as
a pre-primary school for street children, Makabongwe School (corner of
Brook and Victoria Streets, Durban); printmaking workshop for African Art
Centre held at Natal Technikon, sponsored by S.I.D.A; fabric painting
workshop, Ladysmith, University of Durban Westville Outreach Programme.
1995
Fabric painting classes for the Saturday art workshop for the African Art
Centre; Winter School fabric painting workshop held at the University of
Durban Westville.
1994
Coordinated and taught Saturday school art classes for the African Art
Centre. Classes sponsored by the Swedish International Development Aid.
1993
Mural mosaic at Brettonwood High School with the school pupils; mural
painting project at St Lawrence School, Valley of a Thousand Hills – joint
project between university students and school children, and part of the
University of Durban-Westville Outreach Programme, sponsored by the
Bartel Arts Trust.
1992
Art classes in a children’s ward at Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg –
decorated the ward at Christmas time; fabric painting workshop held in
Xihoko in the then Northern Transvaal. Tsonga-Shangaan women who are
members of the Xihoko workshop embroider cloths, which are sold to earn
a living wage. The possibility of combining embroidery with fabric painting
was investigated.
1988
Coordinator of children’s art classes at Natal Technikon under the
auspices of the Natal Society of Arts (NSA).
1987
Children’s art classes sponsored by the Durban Arts Association. The
children took part in the Life in the Park festival.
1986
Coordinator of art programme for street children. Worked in association
with Natal Society of Arts and Community Arts Workshop.
1980-1984
Council member of Natal Society of Arts.
1984
Founder member of the Community Arts Workshop set up in the old
station buildings in Durban. Gave Saturday art classes at the Community
Arts workshop.
EXHIBITIONS
2012
MOVING FLOWERS. Exhibition of large and small paintings at the Everard
Read Gallery, Johannesburg.
2009
Exhibition of large and small paintings matter and treasure and paint at
The South African National Arts Festival, Grahamstown.
3000 HOURS. An exhibition of paintings and textiles by Bronwen Findlay
and Merle Payne at Kalk Bay Modern Gallery, Cape Town.
2008
TURN AGAIN. Exhibition of paintings and prints held at the Tamasa
Gallery, Durban
FLOATING AND FALLING. Exhibition of monotypes and paintings at David
Krut Projects, Johannesburg.
2007
LUCKY BEANS AND LACE CURTAIN. Exhibition of prints at Artist Proof Studio,
Newtown, Johannesburg.
SPIER Contemporary, Cape Town
2006
EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY. Exhibition of paintings and prints held at the
Substation, University of the Witwatersrand and KwaZulu-Natal Society of
Arts, Durban.
ALL ABOUT EVERYTHING. Exhibition held at the Standard Bank Gallery,
Johannesburg.
2005
A BLANKET STORY. Exhibition of prints at the David Krut print workshop.
Exhibition at TOKARA, Stellenbosch, curated by Julia Meintjes.
2002
FLOORS AND FLOWERS. Solo exhibition held at the Tamasa Gallery,
Durban.
Nominated for FNB Vita Awards Prize. Exhibition held at Goodman Gallery,
Johannesburg. Work then shown at Potchefstroom Art Festival.
2001
PAINTING, PRINTING, STITCHING – The work of Bronwen Findlay, Daina
Mabunda, Faiza Galdhari. Curated and coordinated exhibition.
The exhibition was held at the NSA Gallery in Durban after which it was
shown at the Grahamstown Arts Festival and then at the Standard Bank
Gallery in Johannesburg. The Johannesburg show included new work and
was renamed THREADS.
1998
BRINGING UP BABY – Artists survey the reproductive body. Exhibition
curated by Terry Kurgan. The exhibition was held at the Castle in Cape
Town, at the Grahamstown Standard Bank Arts Festival, and at the Wits Art
Galleries.
30 S X 31E. Four Durban Artists: Bronwen Findlay, Jeremy Wafer, Aidan
Walsh, David Haigh. Lipschitz Gallery, Cape Town.
Solo Exhibition. The 1999 South African Women’s Arts Festival, sponsored by
the Playhouse Company and Transnet.
1997
Exhibition with Jeremy Wafer at the Natal Society of Arts Gallery, Durban.
Solo exhibition at the Walsh Marais Gallery, Durban.
1996
Solo exhibition at the Elizabeth Gallery, Durban.
1995
TRANSITIONS: Contemporary art from the Republic of South Africa. A
touring exhibition presented by Bath Festivals Trust Contemporary Art
Programme in association with OVA.
1994
MA exhibition at Jack Heath Gallery, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
1989
Solo exhibition at the Elizabeth Gordon Gallery, Durban.
1987
Exhibition with Aidan Walsh, Gallery International, Cape Town.
Exhibition with Jeremy Wafer, Clive van den Berg, Andries Botha, Bonnie Ntshalinshali and Fee Halstead at the NSA Gallery, Durban.
1986
Exhibition with Jeremy Wafer and Virginia Mackenny at the NSA Gallery,
Durban.
Solo exhibition at Café Geneve, Durban.
1985
Exhibition with Andrew Verster and Clive van den Berg at the Association
of Arts, Pretoria.
1983
Solo exhibition at the Natal Society of Arts, Durban.
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2017
EARTH FABRIC. Gallery 2, Johannesburg.
2010
10 YEARS – 10 ARTISTS. Tamasa Gallery, Durban.
MINOR MATTERS. An exhibition curated by Janine Allen at the University of the Free State.
2004
Brett Kebble Art Awards exhibition, Cape Town
2002
UNTOLD TALES OF MAGIC: ABELUMBI. Curated by Jill Addleson, Durban Art
Gallery.
2001 & 2005
BREAK THE SILENCE. Artists for Human Rights. HIV/Aids Billboard and Print
Portfolio project.
2001
SELF. An exhibition of life-size linocuts, Karoo Festival, Oudtshoorn.
2000-2001
THE HOUR GLASS PROJECT. A print collaboration, Caversham Press, KZN.
Exhibition held at the Standard Bank festival in Grahamstown, Atlanta,
USA, Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg.
1998
UTSAV. An exhibition of artists from India and South Africa, Durban Art
Gallery. Exhibition held in honour of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson
Mandela. Exhibition curated by Uma Prakash.
MUSIC AND IMAGE. Standard Bank Festival, Grahamstown. A
collaboration with the Caversham Press.
JABULISA: The art of KwaZulu-Natal. Exhibition held in Durban,
Pietermaritzburg, Johannesburg.
1995
PANORAMAS OF PASSAGE: Changing landscapes of South Africa. Touring
exhibition organised by Meridian International Centre, Washington DC in
association with the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
SIYAWELA: Love, Loss and Liberty. Africa ’95. Curated by Colin Richards
and Pitika Ntuli from University of the Witwatersrand and Birmingham City
Art Museum.
OBJECTS OF DESIRE. The Thompson Gallery, Johannesburg.
1992
ART MEETS SCIENCE: Flowers as image. Grahamstown Festival and national
travelling exhibition.
1989
Volkskas Atelier Exhibition, Association of Arts, Pretoria.
1988
Volkskas Atelier Exhibition, Association of Arts, Pretoria.
1987
Volkskas Atelier Exhibition, Association of Arts, Pretoria.
1986
Volkskas Atelier Exhibition, Association of Arts, Pretoria.
DURBAN ARTISTS. Elizabeth Gordon Gallery, Durban.
End Conscription Campaign Exhibition, Durban.
1985
National Paper Works Exhibition, Natal Society of Arts, Durban.
AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
2007
Helgaard Steyn Award for painting. Presentation held at North-West
University.
2004
Merit Award for A PAINTING ABOUT A BEDSPREAD, Brett Kebble Art
Awards, Cape Town.
2002
Nominated for VITA Art Award
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Stegmann Gallery, University of the Free State
Durban Institute of Technology
Durban Art Gallery
Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg
Unisa Collection, Pretoria
Wits Art Galleries, University of Witwatersrand
Natal Provincial Administration
Botany Department, University of Cape Town
ABSA Bank Collection
Engen Collection
Empangeni Art and Culture Museum
Carnegie Art Museum, Newcastle, Natal Margate Art Museum, KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Administration
Sasol Collection, Johannesburg
MTN Collection, Johannesburg
Standard Bank, Johannesburg
First National Bank
COMMISSIONS
2010-2017 Mosaics for homes and public buildings:
Mosaic for Morrison home, Johannesburg
Mosaic for Cianfanelli home, Johannesburg
Mosaic for Tanya Zack, Anstey’s Building, Johannesburg
Mosaic for St Andrew’s School for Girls, Johannesburg
Mosaic for Saheti School, Johannesburg
Mosaic for Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, Johannesburg
Mosaic for Biokinetic Centre, University of Johannesburg
Mosaics for Ruff home, St James, Cape Town
Mosaic panel for Buntman home, Johannesburg
Mosaic for house Ireton, Parktown North, Johannesburg
Mosaic for house Muller, Melrose, Johannesburg
Mosaic for Read home, Rosebank, Johannesburg
Mosaic for Pulford home, Birdhaven, Johannesburg
Mosaic for Arcache home, Durban
2001
Melrose Arch mosaic project with Jane du Rand and Andrew Verster. Partly responsible for designing and applying 400sqm of mosaic to lift shaft, tower block, interior and exterior walls of a building designed by architects from Omm Design Workshop, Durban.
2000
Designed book cover for "Jurisprudence: A South African Perspective" by David Johnson, Steve Pete, Max du Plessis. Painting titled ‘Seeds and Scales’.
1995-2000
Designed covers for ‘Alternation: Journal of the Centre for the Study of Southern African Literature and languages’.
1994
Commissioned to paint flower painting for the Botany Department,
University of Cape Town.
1992
‘Art meets science’. Commissioned for the Grahamstown Festival and
printed at the Caversham Press.
1991
Portfolio of prints commissioned by First National Bank, printed at
Caversham Press.
1988
Mural for the Malherbe Library, University of Natal, Durban.
1987
‘Happy birthday Andrew’. Portfolio of prints by different artists
commissioned by the Goodman Gallery and printed at Caversham Press.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Findlay has acted as a judge for various art competitions, and opened numerous art exhibitions.
2017
‘A book historian and an artist join forces: Books as artistic instruments.’
Paper presented with Isabel Hofmeyr at FADA colloquium, University of
Johannesburg.
2016
Round table presentation for Multiple Modernisms colloquium, University of
the Witwatersrand.
2006
ARTIST TO ARTIST exchange. Awarded by VISITING ARTS, UK. Collaboration
with Joy Gregory.
Women Artists and Poets Advocate Children’s Rights. Collaboration with
Yvette Christianse. A project of Art for Humanity.
2005
‘Every picture tells a story’. Paper presented at University of KwaZulu-Natal,
Centre of Visual Art, Pietermaritzburg as part of international conference,
‘Dress in Southern Africa’.
2003-2007
Appointed as external moderator for third and fourth year students from
the Fine Art Department at the Vaal University of Technology.
2006-2007
Appointed as external examiner for the Fine Art Department of the
University of the Free State.
2005-2006
Appointed as moderator at Greenside Design Centre, Johannesburg.
2004
Appointed as external moderator for B-tech students from the School of
Art, Design and Architecture at Witwatersrand Technikon.
2002
Judged Martienssen Exhibition with Jeremy Wafer at Johannesburg Art
Gallery.
Opened SURVEY at Durban Art Gallery, an exhibition of ten years of work by Jeremy Wafer.
2001
Presented a paper at the annual conference of the South African
Association of Art and Architectural Historians.
1999
Artist in Residence, National Arts Festival, Grahamstown.
1998
‘New ground – common ground’. Attended conference and took part in
print exchange portfolio, Rhodes University, Grahamstown.
1997
‘African landscape with aeroplane – before and after’. Paper presented
at Joseldoff Gallery, University of Hartford, Connecticut, USA.
Panel discussion to coincide with exhibition ‘Panoramas of Passage – Changing Landscapes of South Africa’.
1996
On the selection panel of the Emma Smith Overseas Art Scholarship, Natal
Technikon.
1995
‘Painting and stitching – The work of Bronwen Findlay and Daina
Mabunda’, paper presented at the University of Durban Westville, the
Centre for the Study of Southern African Literature and Languages.
Symposium: ‘Transmissions – Contemporary Art from the Republic of South Africa’, Bath, United Kingdom. Presented a paper on the work of Bronwen Findlay and Daina Mabunda.
1992
‘Xihoko embroidery’. Paper presented at conference on Crafts in
Education, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
1987
Spent four months at the Cite Internationale des Arts, Paris
© Bronwen Findlay 2007 – 2017 | All rights reserved
