Artist CV
Professional Experience
1997-Present: Director, Boudiccea Productions cc, Fine Art Foundry and Sculpture Studio, Pretoria, South Africa
2002: Curator, "People, Planet & prosperity" Earth Summit Exhibition, Pretoria & Johannesburg, South Africa
2001: Juror, PPC Cement Sculpture Competition, Pretoria South Africa
1999: Guest lecturer Sculpture and Foundry techniques, Fine Arts UNISA, Pretoria, South Africa
1995-1996: Foundry/Production Manager, Art Casting BVBA, Oudenaarde, Belgium
1991-1995: Apprentice Program, The Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture, Mercerville, New Jersey, USA
1993: Guest Lecturer, Sculpture Department, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
1990: Technical Assistant to Prof. Mike Edwards, Professor of Fine Arts, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
1989: Technical Assistant to Johan van Heerden, sculptor, Johannesburg, South Africa
Education
1987-1989:
University of Pretoria, Baccalaureate Fine Arts, Distinction obtained in Sculpture, Major Subjects - Sculpture, Visual Communication, Art History, Pretoria, South Africa
1986:
Stellenbosch university, Studying Graphic design Stellenbosch, South Africa
1985:
Matriculated, Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool, Pretoria, South Africa
Awards
1991-1995: Tuition Grant, The Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture, Mercerville, New Jersey USA
1988:First place, Portland Cement Sculpture Competition, Pretoria, South Africa
Most Promising Sculpture Student, University of Pretoria, South Africa
1987: Second place, Portland Cement Sculpture Competition, Pretoria, South Africa
Winner of the Everite Sculpture Competition, Pretoria, South Africa
Exhibitions
2017: Deicate Balance with Lynette ten Krooden, Pretoria Arts Assoc, Pretoria
2014:
4 x 8 = 32 Group Exhibition, Pretoria Arts Assoc, Pretoria
Revealing Light - Ligth Revealed, Tina Skukan Gallery Pretoria
2013: Boudiccea group exhibition, Pretoria Arts Assoc, Pretoria
2012: Black & White, Pretoria Arts Assoc, Pretoria
2009: Pretoria Arts Assoc, Pretoria
2007:
EVANESCO, Pretoria Arts Assoc, Pretoria
Platform on 18th, Pretoria
2006: Tina Skukan Gallery, Pretoria
2002:
People, Planet & Prosperity, Pretoria Arts Assoc, Pretoria & ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg
Journey of the Cross, Tina Skukan Gallery
"Landscape" Old Arts gallery, University of Pretoria, South Africa
Printmaker's Guild Easter Show
Pretoria Arts Assoc, Pretoria
Works permanently carried at:
The Art Gallery, PTA - Chris Tugwell Gallery, Kosmos & PTA - PTA Arts Assoc. PTA - Cherie De Villiers Gallery, JHB - Old Arts Gallery, PTA
Other Exhibitions
- 2001 Aardklop Nasionale Kunstefees, Kuns Sirkel, Potchefstroom, South Africa,
- Kunskafee, Kyknet Art Special, Story about sculpture and foundry Boudiccea Productions cc
- "Equus" Pretoria Arts Association, Pretoria ,South Africa
- "Unframed" Tina Skukan Gallery, Faerie Glen, South Africa
- Clarence Kunstefees, Clarence, South Africa
- "Femina" Pretoria Arts Association, Pretoria, South Africa
- Pecanwood Golf Estates, Hartbeespoortdam, South Africa
- House of Art Inagural Show, Pretoria South Africa
- Work displayed, Pretoria Arts Association, South Africa
- Work displayed, Old Arts Gallery & Brooklyn Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
- 2000 Christmas Exhibition, PTA AA, Pretoria South Africa
- Group Show, Frieda Van Schalkwyk Art Consulting, Pretoria, South Africa
- Work displayed, Old Arts Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
- 1999 ABSA Atelier Competition, work accepted, South Africa
- Inaugural Show, State Theatre Art Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
- Group Show, Architectural Collaboration, Pretoria South Africa
- "Reynard the Fox & other Foxtrot Stories - Belgian Folklore, and Contemporary Mythology" Tina Skukan Gallery, Fairy Glen, PTA, South Africa
- "Inaugural Exhibition" Gallery Vos, Pretoria, RSA
- Permanent display and addition, Zona Boschoff, Brooklyn ,RSA
- "Art & Life" State Theatre Gallery, Pretoria, RSA
- Multiple Private Residence showings and commissions.
- 1998 Pretoria News Lifestyle Expo, Cornwall Hill Estates, Irene, South Africa
- "10th Anniversary Exhibition", Frieda Van Schalkwyk Art Consulting, Guild Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
- Trap der Jugd, Sculpture Shown in conjunction with JATO's "Agter Gesloten Deure" Theatre Production, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Private Residence Show, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Alberton Civic Centre Library, Alberton, South Africa
- 1997 Group Show, House of De LaHarpe Grobbelaar, Pretoria, South Africa
- 1996 Koninlijke Kunst Acadamie (Royal Academy of Art), Oudenaarde, Belgium
- 1995 Works on Display, Main Gallery, Art Casting BVBA, Oudennaarde, Belgium
- Group Show, Extension Gallery, The Johnson Atelier, Mercerville, NJ USA
- 1994 Group Show, Art Museum of Pretoria, Pretoria South Africa
- Group Show, Guild House Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
- 1993 Group Show, "App-Art" Extension Gallery, The Johnson Atelier, NJ USA
- Group Show, "African Art Consciousness" Philadelphia, PA USA
- 1992 Two-Person Show, Extension Gallery, The Johnson Atelier, Mercerville, NJ USA
- Group how, SOHO, New York, NY USA
- 1991 Group Show, Gallery on the Market, Johannesburg, South Africa
- 1990 Private Show, Mr. and Mrs. Van Rooyen, Pretoria South Africa
- Group Show "Volstruispaleis" Antique Shop Gallery, Pretoria South Africa
- 1989 Group Show, Private Gallery Mrs. D. Immelman, Pretoria South Africa
- Fourth Year Exhibition, University of Pretoria, Pretoria South Africa
- 1988 & 1989 New Signatures Competitions, South African Arts Association, Johannesburg, South Africa
- 1987-1989 Multiple student exhibitions, various locations, South Africa
Commissions & Installations
2001: Private Commission, Mrs. J Softman, Mooikloof Estates, Pretoria, South Africa
1998: Saldhana Steel Corp. Permanent Collection, Capetown, South Africa
1996: Atlantic Engineering, Permanent installation, Eke, Belgium
1995: Mr. & Mrs. S. Amanthramen-Shankar, Madras, India
1994: Sculpture Permanently Displayed, Guild House Gallery, Pretoria South Africa
1993: Ms. D. Donaldson, Baltimore, Maryland USA
1992: Ms. M. Weinkop, Ewing, New Jersey USA
1991: South African Trademark & Patent Attorneys, Johannesburg and Pretoria offices, South Africa
1990: South African Association for the Blind, Pretoria, South Africa
1988-1989: Sculpture Permanently Displayed, Drostdy Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
International Private Collections including the USA, India, France, Belgium, Bolivia, Hungary, Dubai, Canada and Australia.
Technical Experience
Sculpture:
Welding (TIG, MIG, Oxy-fuel,) Soldering. Fabrication with wood, stainless & mild steels, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, cement. Carving of plaster, wood and stone. Modelling with cement, oil and water-based clays and polystyrene. Mouldmaking with plaster watse and piece moulds, polyurethane resin, silicon, rubber and Fiberglas. Printmaking with silk-screen, woodprint, linoleum block, intaglio, etching and lithography. Toolmaking, metal finishing, chasing and polishing work.
Foundry:
Casting- Iron, silver, copper, bronze, aluminium, pewter, Britannia metal, Lost wax investment method, Ceramic shell, Sand casting, Centrifugal Casting, Construction and maintenance of kilns, furnaces, cupolas, and cupolettes, Equipment - fabrication, maintenance and repair, Alloy composition.
Reviews
Journey Across Soul and Space
Her first solo-exhibition since her return from abroad.
At the age of 35, sculptor Susanna Swart has travelled a journey which took her from Pretoria, across to America and then to Europe. Along the way she has distinguished herself not only as an exceptional artist but also as an expert caster, establishing a foundry with an American business partner in South Africa in 1997.
Susanna Swart has exhibited in the United States throughout the Eastern Seaboard, including New York and Philadelphia. In Belgium she was invited to participate in a three-person show at the Royal Academy of Art in Oudenaarde.
Her work is to be found in collections all over the world including the USA, Canada, various European countries, India, Dubai and Australia. In South Africa she is represented in private, public and corporate collections.
Returning to her hometown Pretoria in 1997, Susanna Swart reconnected with her love of the African landscape. This deep spiritual bond is reflected in her female figures, which blend and become one with rock formations, trees, driftwood and bones. Armoured and weapon-like forms appear, invoking tension within an ancient sense of serenity. Of her own work she says: "I want to tap into those primal memory triggers - opening long-forgotten dialogues within the viewer."
Her work has incredible magnetism, drawing the viewer into voluptuous, erotic and sometimes painfully sharp forms.
Pretoria is proud to present Susanna Swart's solo-exhibition in the Old Arts Gallery at the University of Pretoria, where light and space do justice to her sculptural forms. This exhibition, entitled 'soulspace', marks an end-point to a journey that has taken her across the world and brought her back to Pretoria
Katty Vandenberghe
