Artist

Beatrice Nyembe
Sculptor
Start date: 1991-01-01
End date: 2000-12-31

Bio

Beatrice Nyembe was born at Mangweni, not far from the original Ardmore studio in the Drakensberg. Beatrice had no formal schooling, five children to care for and she had never worked before; however, inspired by her grandmother - a skilled rural potter - she joined Ardmore in 1991.

Like her friend and former colleague, Beauty Ntshalintshali, Beatrice hand-coils big, wonderfully generous forms that are not unlike the traditional Zulu ukumba pots her grandmother would have made. Her teapots, tureens, jugs, bowls and candlesticks are strikingly bold in concept and full of energy. she also developed her own speciality: square-shaped jugs and enormous, large-legged bowls decorated with animals.

Beatrice's creations have been exhibited all over South Africa and have formed a major part of the Christie's exhibitions in 2003 and 2004 as well as at th State President's London Residence in 2005. The historic significance of Beatrice's work has been recognized and examples are held in the permanent collection of the Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg.

Beatrice retired in 2006 to spend more time with her family.

 

Exhibitions

1990

  • Diminicus Gallery, Johannesburg

1992  

  • Volkskas Exhibition, Durban
  • The Natal Route , Ferguson Fine Art, Johannesburg

1995

  •   The Spirit of our Stories, Print Exhibition, Grahamstown

1992-1996

  • Gallery on Tyrone, Johannesburg


1994

  • Natal Society of Arts exhibition, Durban

1996

  • Meklenberg Groote Schuur, Cape Town

1997 

  • State President's Guest House, Bryntirion Estate, Pretoria;
  • Catalyst Gallery, Johannesburg;

1998

  • Exhibition SA Embassy Residence, Bonn, Germany;
  • Marl Concert Hall, Marl, Germany;
  • Exhibition Essen, Germany Exhibition Siegen, Germany;
  • Thyssen Forum Dusseldorf, Germany;
  • Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg

1999

  • Bordeaux St Gallery, Franschhoek, Cape;
  • Gallery on Tyrone, Johannesburg

2000

  • ABSA Bank, Johannesburg

2001

  • International Ceramic Arts Festival, Wales;
  • Hospice Exhibition, Johannesburg;
  • SA Embassy Exhibition, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2002 

  • Charles Greig Jewellers, Hyde Park, Johannesburg

2003

  • Christie’s exhibition, London

2004

  • Christie’s auction, London;
  • City Arts Council, Edinburgh

2005

  • Private exhibition, High Commissioner, Highveld, London
  • Christopher Greig, Hyde Park

2006

  • Amaridian Gallery, New York;
  • Private Exhibition, High Commissioner, Highveld, London;
  • Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg

 

 

 

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