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Kathy Venter
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Ostraca are fragments of fired clay, valued for the information they carry. With this in mind I have produced a series of heads and upper torsos of models in the studio.
By using the model as the subject, I provide the
viewer with an uncluttered reflection of self through another. The sculptures are direct and engaging, life size, a measure of our humanity. The response to each work will be as varied as our own individuality.
There is (in spite of
naturalism and clear detail) a strong sense of presence and a shameless, generous invitation to ponder all aspects of form and personality.
Abstraction, which I believe to be an essential part of my own or any artwork, is
introduced in the surface treatment, a casing from which the figurative forms emerge, enhanced and invigorated by this escape.
This application of cement, plaster and color, then sand blasted, refers directly to the Tanagra terracotta figurines
which were painted with white slip, colored and then left to the abrasion of being buried for thousands of years. This I have translated into the personal and contemporary idiom by adding texture but maintaining the colors as we see them
today. Pale blue, pink, yellow and white.
I propose that the interest in this series lies in three components, all housed together in the studio, i.e. the model, the clay and the artistic choices I have made within the tradition and
development of my artistic discipline, while bringing my vision to the language of visual art.
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Head No. 2 25 x 18 x 11 Inches ceramic $12,000 Will be featured in the Gardiner Museum, 111 Queen's Park, Toronto (opposite the ROM) from mid May 2013 through September 2013
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Only Now 25 x 18 x 11 Inches ceramic $12,000 Will be featured in the Gardiner Museum, 111 Queen's Park, Toronto (opposite the ROM) from mid May 2013 through September 2013
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Occupy 68 x 25 x 18 Inches ceramic $36,000 Will be featured in the Gardiner Museum, 111 Queen's Park, Toronto (opposite the ROM) from mid May 2013 through September 2013
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Even Telling 43 x 21 x 34 Inches ceramic $36,000 Will be featured in the Gardiner Museum, 111 Queen's Park, Toronto (opposite the ROM) from mid May 2013 through September 2013
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Here and Here 54 x 22 x 32 Inches ceramic $36,000 Will be featured in the Gardiner Museum, 111 Queen's Park, Toronto (opposite the ROM) from mid May 2013 through September 2013
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| | Please email the gallery to view more works by Kathy Venter. |
Education |
1980 M.F.A. Sculpture, Port Elizabeth School of Art and Design, South Africa
1978 Honors Diploma Fine Art Sculpture
1976 Diploma in Fine Art Sculpture
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Solo Exhibitions |
2013 Gardiner Museum of Contemporary Ceramics, Toronto
2011 Robin Relph Contemporary, London, U.K.
2009 William Traver Gallery, Seattle. Water Boundary
2008 Buschlen Mowatt Gallery, Vancouver
2007 Sculpture Site Gallery, San Francisco
2006 William Traver Gallery, Seattle
2005 William Traver Gallery, Seattle
2004 Miriam Shiell Fine Art, Toronto
2003 Buschlen Mowatt Gallery, Vancouver
2002 Vortex Gallery, Saltspring Island
2001 Vortex Gallery Saltspring Island
1999 Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver
1998 Vortex Gallery, Saltspring Island
1997 Vortex Gallery, Saltspring Island
1996 Vortex Gallery, Saltspring Island
1995 Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver
1993 Vortex Gallery, Saltspring Island
1992 Vortex Galllery, Saltspring Island
1990 Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver
1989 Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver
1988 Gallery International, Cape Town
1987 Gallery International, Cape Town
1986 Gallery International, Cape Town
1985 Gallery International, Cape Town
1984 Beuster-Skolomowski Gallery, Pretoria
1980 Port Elizabeth School of Art and Design
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Group Exhibitions |
2010 Four guest artists. Sacramento State University Museum.
2010 Bellevue Arts Museum, Seattle. “Clay Throwdown Biennale”
2010 Chmar Gallery inaugural exhibition.
2009 Los Angeles Art Fair. Sculpturesite Gallery.
2008 Hastings House sculpture garden inaugural.
2007 Sculpture Site Gallery, Body Language 2
2006 Sculpture Site Gallery, San Francisco Firings
2006 Sculpture Site Gallery, San Francisco Body Language
2006 Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale
2005 Vancouver International Sculpture Biennale
2004 Toronto International Art Fair, Miriam Shiell Gallery
2003 Toronto International Art Fair, Buschlen Mowatt Gallery
2002 Toronto International Art Fair, Vortex Gallery
2001 Sofa International Art Fair, Miller Gallery
2001 International invitational Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
2001 Vancouver Art Gallery, Invitational Auction Exhibition
2000 Sofa International Art Fair, Miller Gallery
2000 Vancouver Art Gallery, Invitational Auction Exhibition
1997 Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver
1996 Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver, H x W x D
1995 Los Angeles International Art Fair, Diane Farris Gallery
1995 Seattle International Art Fair, Diane Farris Gallery
1993 Port Angeles Fine Arts Museum, WA. U.S.A., Straight Art III: the Canadian Waters
1991 Vortex Gallery, Saltspring Island, Dual Show
1988 National Red Cross Exhibition for Operation Hunger, Invitational traveling show, Southeby's
South Africa.
1988 1820 Settlers' Monument, South Africa, Ecca Group Show, Grahamstown Festival, Grahamstown
1987 Anne Bryant Gallery East London, South Africa, Five Artists from the Ciskei
1984 – 1987 Grahamstown 1820 Settlers Monument, City Hall, Port Elizabeth Read Gallery,
Johannesburg G.A.P. Group, Annual Exhibitions
1981 Port Elizabeth School of Art and Design
1978 – 1986 Annual Exhibition, Association of Ceramists of South Africa
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Collections |
Gardiner Museum of Contemporary Ceramics, Toronto
South African National Gallery, Pretoria
Ceramics Museum Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
Gates Foundation, U.S.A.
Permanent Collection, Port Elizabeth Technikon
Richard B. Sachs collection, New York
Private collections: South Africa, Japan, Canada, England, U.S.A., Ireland, Bahamas,
New Zealand, Holland and Australia.
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Publications |
2011 Review. The Driftwood.
2010 Contemporary Ceramics, Emmanuel Cooper.
2010 Art Allsorts II, John Grande
2010 Ceramic Art and Perception. Review for Bellevue Arts Museum.
2009 Art Allsorts, John Grande
2008 Ceramic Sculpture. Turner
2008 Ceramics Monthly Magazine - One
2006 Ceramics Monthly Magazine – Immersion series - December 2006. Cover image.
2005 The Globe and Mail Art Review by Gary Michael Dault.
2000 The Human Form in Clay Jane Waller, United Kingdom
2000 Ceramics Monthly – May, 2000
2000 Ceramics Review – article, September 2000
1997 Famous Five Foundation selected maquette for monument
1996 Knowledge Network documentary Many Faces of Brock
1995 Focus on Women magazine article
1995 Times Colonist review
1990 Vancouver Sun review
1988 Collage Television Coverage ECCA show
1988 Radio South Africa interview Women Today
1985 Sgraffiti article, magazine of National Association of potters of South Africa.
1984 Pretoria News review
1983 Eastern Province Herald 1983 Sunday Times review
1982 Cape Herald review
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