South African visual artist Grace Kotze

Grace Kotze

Durban | 18 artworks for sale

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  • Birds In The Garden - Painting by Grace Kotze Birds In The Garden
    Painting / 30 x 30 cm
    R5 000
  • Dreams Come True - Painting by Grace Kotze Dreams Come True
    Painting / 52 x 137 cm
    R28 000
  • The Garden - Painting by Grace Kotze The Garden
    Painting / 60 x 60 cm
    R17 000
  • Comfortable Perch II - Painting by Grace Kotze Comfortable Perch II
    Painting / 50 x 55 cm
    R15 000
  • Quiet Conversation - Painting by Grace Kotze Quiet Conversation
    Painting / 150 x 100 cm
    R45 000
  • Sustenance - Painting by Grace Kotze Sustenance
    Painting / 24 x 24 cm
    R3 900
  • Fred Shows His Power - Painting by Grace Kotze Fred Shows His Power
    Painting / 24 x 24 cm
    R3 900
  • Chaos Of Summer - Painting by Grace Kotze Chaos Of Summer
    Painting / 90 x 90 cm
    R34 000
  • Sleepy Primate - Painting by Grace Kotze Sleepy Primate
    Painting / 40 x 40 cm
    R8 500
  • Nesting Peahen - Painting by Grace Kotze Nesting Peahen
    Painting / 40 x 40 cm
    R8 500
  • Gentle Breeze - Painting by Grace Kotze Gentle Breeze
    Painting / 60 x 60 cm
    R17 000
  • Movement Of Time - Painting by Grace Kotze Movement Of Time
    Painting / 40 x 55 cm
    R12 000
  • Weight Of Repose - Painting by Grace Kotze Weight Of Repose
    Painting / 55 x 40 cm
    R12 000
  • Sweet Tooth - Painting by Grace Kotze Sweet Tooth
    Painting / 50 x 60 cm
    R16 000
  • The Survivors - Painting by Grace Kotze The Survivors
    Painting / 90 x 60 cm
    R24 000
  • Camouflaged Beauty - Painting by Grace Kotze Camouflaged Beauty
    Painting / 30 x 60 cm
    R9 000
  • Red Gem - Painting by Grace Kotze Red Gem
    Painting / 25 x 40 cm
    R5 750
  • No Throne Too Good - Painting by Grace Kotze No Throne Too Good
    Painting / 120 x 120 cm
    R40 000
  • Friendly Pair - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Friendly Pair
    Painting / 30 x 40 cm
  • Sparrows And Girl - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Sparrows And Girl
    Painting / 30 x 30 cm
  • Learned Hadeda - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Learned Hadeda
    Painting / 25 x 40 cm
  • Warhol Paints The World - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Warhol Paints The World
    Painting / 24 x 24 cm
  • Drool - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Drool
    Painting / 24 x 24 cm
  • Jade Perch - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Jade Perch
    Painting / 25 x 40 cm
  • Comfortable Perch - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Comfortable Perch
    Painting / 60 x 60 cm
  • A Tower Of Penguins - Painting by Grace Kotze
    A Tower Of Penguins
    Painting / 45 x 122 cm
  • Dignity - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Dignity
    Painting / 70 x 90 cm
  • Confectionary Camouflage - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Confectionary Camouflage
    Painting / 63 x 70 cm
  • Golden Glow - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Golden Glow
    Painting / 25 x 40 cm
  • Better From The Top - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Better From The Top
    Painting / 30 x 60 cm
  • Penguin Pile - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Penguin Pile
    Painting / 30 x 60 cm
  • Carved Perch - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Carved Perch
    Painting / 80 x 80 cm
  • Peacock - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Peacock
    Painting / 50 x 55 cm
  • Black, White & Yellow - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Black, White & Yellow
    Painting / 20 x 40 cm
  • Curious Neighbours - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Curious Neighbours
    Painting / 70 x 70 cm
  • Golden Pheasant - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Golden Pheasant
    Painting / 50 x 55 cm
  • Red & Golden Glow - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Red & Golden Glow
    Painting / 25 x 40 cm
  • Blue Dream - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Blue Dream
    Painting / 20 x 40 cm
  • Communities - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Communities
    Painting / 30 x 45 cm
  • Dream Maker - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Dream Maker
    Painting / 15 x 15 cm
  • Beyond Words - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Beyond Words
    Painting / 130 x 90 cm
  • The Family - Painting by Grace Kotze
    The Family
    Painting / 30 x 45 cm
  • Sounds Like Love - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Sounds Like Love
    Painting / 15 x 15 cm
  • Black and White - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Black and White
    Painting / 20 x 40 cm
  • Day Dreams - Sculpture by Grace Kotze
    Day Dreams
    Sculpture / 15 x 8 cm
  • Penguin & Bunny - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Penguin & Bunny
    Painting / 20 x 30 cm
  • Pink and Grey - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Pink and Grey
    Painting / 20 x 40 cm
  • Green and Blue - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Green and Blue
    Painting / 20 x 40 cm
  • Fierce Competition - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Fierce Competition
    Painting / 20 x 30 cm
  • Basquiat's Pet Dinosaur - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Basquiat's Pet Dinosaur
    Painting / 20 x 30 cm
  • Revenge Of The Birds - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Revenge Of The Birds
    Painting / 20 x 30 cm
  • Of Mouse & Penguin - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Of Mouse & Penguin
    Painting / 20 x 30 cm
  • Hound & Penguin - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Hound & Penguin
    Painting / 20 x 30 cm
  • Rediscovered Childhood - Sculpture by Grace Kotze
    Rediscovered Childhood
    Sculpture / 8 x 12 cm
  • All Memory & Time Is Relative - Painting by Grace Kotze
    All Memory & Time Is Relative
    Painting / 20 x 30 cm
  • Life Celebrated - Sculpture by Grace Kotze
    Life Celebrated
    Sculpture / 9 x 11 cm
  • Seasoned Traveller And Pooch - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Seasoned Traveller And Pooch
    Painting / 20 x 30 cm
  • The Most Beautiful Star Of Them All - Painting by Grace Kotze
    The Most Beautiful Star Of Them All
    Painting / 20 x 30 cm
  • High In Potassium  - Painting by Grace Kotze
    High In Potassium
    Painting / 30 x 20 cm
  • The Happiness Of Imagined Promises - Sculpture by Grace Kotze
    The Happiness Of Imagined Promises
    Sculpture / 8 x 12 cm
  • Discarded Childhood - Sculpture by Grace Kotze
    Discarded Childhood
    Sculpture / 9 x 11 cm
  • Awakening Strength I - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Awakening Strength I
    Painting / 70 x 50 cm
  • Hesitant Travellers - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Hesitant Travellers
    Painting / 100 x 150 cm
  • Tender Companions - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Tender Companions
    Painting / 100 x 150 cm
  • Journey Interrupted - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Journey Interrupted
    Painting / 55 x 35 cm
  • The Displaced Ibis - Painting by Grace Kotze
    The Displaced Ibis
    Painting / 80 x 120 cm
  • The Pigeon And The Chinese Teapot - Painting by Grace Kotze
    The Pigeon And The Chinese Teapot
    Painting / 80 x 80 cm
  • Six Penguins - Painting by Grace Kotze
    Six Penguins
    Painting / 30 x 60 cm
  • The Pigeon & Chinese Dragon Bowl - Painting by Grace Kotze
    The Pigeon & Chinese Dragon Bowl
    Painting / 80 x 80 cm
  • The Pigeon And The Antique Books - Painting by Grace Kotze
    The Pigeon And The Antique Books
    Painting / 80 x 80 cm
  • White Light: Floating Form II - Painting by Grace Kotze
    White Light: Floating Form II
    Painting / 50 x 75 cm
  • White Light: Floating Form I - Painting by Grace Kotze
    White Light: Floating Form I
    Painting / 50 x 75 cm
  • Male Nude: Standing - Nude Painting by Grace Kotze
    Male Nude: Standing
    Nude Painting / 26 x 40 cm
  • To Surface - Painting by Grace Kotze
    To Surface
    Painting / 80 x 120 cm
Making art is the way in which I make sense of my environment and navigate my way through life. It’s all part of a visual puzzle, where I search for images, tones, colours, and methods of paint application looking for appropriate visuals to describe emotions that I am feeling at the time. These emotions are felt, not understand and the image making process is a way that I can understand them and feel at peace with them.

My surrounds provide me with such fertile fodder for this journey as it is one that I have an authentic connection with. People, landscapes, foliage, cityscapes and still life objects may all seem everyday subjects but they feel anything but when I mould them into artworks. Paint and emotions have a manner of transporting the mundane into a visually intriguing and compelling subject that hold my attention.

Higher Diploma in Fine Art (Honours) (Durban University Of Technology)

Durban based artist Grace Kotze employs the traditional techniques of image, colour, composition and mark  in her work to evoke an emotional response in the viewer.  Kotze produces surface planes of colour that seem to span infinity yet remain relatively flat.
"I am an explorer of paint and all things visual that engage and move me. The world is an enchanting place and paint is the ideal medium with which to investigate its many wonders. My work is motivated by the challenge of fusing my emotional intent with visual and technical concerns. At present acrylic painting is my primary tool, its phenomenally versatile nature offers never-ending possibilities of exploration. In order to produce works of integrity I have to paint from an emotional point of reference. I am very aware of utilizing imagery I have a profound connection to. My paintings function on an autobiographical level documenting both my internal and external vision. I paint places, things and people from my everyday life, using the familiar as a direct link to an emotive sense of self."
 
Solo Exhibitions:
 
2018
Spoils of a Creative Forage: KZNSA Gallery, Durban
2016
“Taking Pause”, Longmynd, Durban

2015
“Learning to let go”, Ebony Gallery, Cape Town

2014
“13 years –Mid career retrospective”, artSPACE Durban

2013
“Within”, Ebony Gallery, Cape Town
“Internal Markings”, Showcase gallery, Dubai

2012
“thaw”, KZNSA Gallery, Durban

2011   
"Anatomy of the Un-seen", artSPACE Durban

2009
"Darkness and Wonder", KZNSA Gallery, Durban

2007
"A Sense of.......", Gordart Gallery, Johannesburg
"A Sense of.......", artSPACE Durban

2006
"Co-ordinates", artSPACE Durban

2005
KZNSA Gallery, Durban

2000
"Inversion", Bang the Gallery, Cape Town
"Inversion", The Art Seen, Durban

Selected Group Exhibitions:
 
2020
“No holds Barred”, The Gallery Riebeek-Kasteel, Riebeek Valley
“Members exhibition”, KZNSA Gallery, Durban
“The Grand”, a group show at Rust-en-Vrede, Cape Town
“She”, The Gallery Riebeek-Kasteel, Riebeek Valley
 
2019
“Works on Paper” The Gallery Riebeek-Kasteel, Riebeek Valley
“The Grand V”, a group show at Rust-en-Vrede, Cape Town
“The Breathing space Christmas Exhibition”, Durban
 
2018
“Slow the flow”, The Gallery Riebeek-Kasteel, Riebeek Valley
“Birds & Botanicals”, curated by Gernot Achleitner, The Foundry Gallery, Cape Town
"KENNIS", curated by Alex Hamilton, Woordfees, SU Museum, Stellenbosch
 
2017
 “In with the New”, The Gallery Riebeek-Kasteel, Riebeek Valley
“Forward”, curated by Grace Kotze, The Breathing Space, Durban
“Together, Apart”, artSPACE durban
“Opskiet by the Museum”, curated by Alex Hamilton, Woordfees, SU Museum, Stellenbosch
“Mythology/Morphology”, DF Contemporary Art, Cape Town
“Dialogues“, StateoftheART, Cape Town
“Summer Group Exhibition”, IS Art, Franschhoek

2016
“The Purple Starman Mash-Up”, curated by Alex Hamilton, Cape Town
“Portervile Open Studio Weekend”,curated by Alex Hamilton JP Meyer, Porterville
“The Grand III”, a group show at Rust-en-Vrede, Cape Town
“Transitiona”, curated by Grace Kotze at The Breathing Space, Durban
“Transmutation”, group show at Knysna Fine Art Gallery
Loading Bay gallery, Nine group shows curated by Grace Kotze
“Interlude” – curated by Carol Lee, Johannesburg

2015
Part of the Benetton traveling collection show at the Venice Biennale
A two person exhibition with Melody French at artSPACE DUrban
A two person exhibition with JP Meyer, "Oombliklik", Woordfees, Stelenbosch
A two person exhibition with Jonathan Gecelter at Diedericks Faber Fine art
“When my eyes are open”, The Breathing Space, Durban
“Manifesto”, curated by Carol Lee, Johannesburg

2014
Upstairs at Bamboo, curated by Carol Lee, Johannesburg
Alex Hamilton, “Flippen Vlambaar” Exhibition, Cape Town
Mashup, “Freeda” curated by Alex Hamilton, Cape Town

2013
“Homosapien”, Kznsa Gallery, Durban
“Velvet”, Absa KKNK (Klein Karoo Nationale Kunstefees), curated by Christiaan Diedericks, Oudtshoorn
The Art Business, Picketburg
The Art Business, Picketburg
“Anthropology”, The Breathing Space, Durban
“Who I am”, Fat Tuesday, Durban

2012
“Inspiration 2”, artSPACE Durban
“Mix”, Curated by Carol Lee, Johannesburg
“Who I am”, Fat Tuesday, Durban

2011
Ebony, Cape Town
“More is More”, curated by Gordon Froud, FADA Gallery, Johannesburg
artSPACE Durban, "Inspiration" - Durban Art Gallery Archive Show
KZNSA Gallery, curated by Bren Brophy
Upstairs at Bamboo, Curated by Carol Lee, Johannesburg
“The End”, artSPACE Durban

2010
The opening of Gallery 2 (previously Gallery on the Square), Johannesburg
Jabulisa 2010 - Natal Arts Trust juried exhibition, opening at the Tatham Art Gallery, and touring South Africa
"Big is Beautiful", artSPACE durban
“KZN” - artists from around Durban, curated by Carol Lee, Upstairs at Bamboo, Johannesburg
 
2009
Gallery on the Square, Johannesburg
"Review", curated by Carol Lee, Upstairs at Bamboo, Johannesburg
"Enigma", curated by Carol Lee, Upstairs at Bamboo, Johannesburg
Hilton College Arts Fair Show, curated by artSPACE durban
Affordable Arts Fair, artSPACE Durban

2008
"17th Annual SALON", Rose Korber Art, Cape Town
"Heaven", South Gallery, Cape Town
"Transform", curated by Carol Lee, Upstairs at Bamboo, Johannesburg
"Formation", artSPACE durban
"Expression", curated by Carol Lee, Upstairs at Bamboo, Johannesburg
"diminutive", artSPACE durban
"Christmas Present Show", Gordart Gallery, Johannesburg
"Sell, sell, sell", curated by Gordon Froud
"Wildlands Art for Conservation Exhibition", curated Lindsay Davies, Durban

2007
"Project" curated by Carol Lee, Upstairs at Bamboo, Johannesburg
Gordart end of year show, Johannesburg
"Malleable", artSPACE durban
"About the surface", with Themba Shibase, Deanne Donaldson and Gabi Ngcobo, curated by Nathi Gumede, KZNSA Gallery, Durban
"Icons", Gallery 415, Durban

2006
Representing artSPACE durban at the Hilton Arts Festival
"Jabulisa 2006", touring the national galleries in the province
Moja Modern, Johannesburg
2005
Tamasa Gallery, Durban
"Paean to Paint", artSPACE durban


Public and Corporate Collections
Luciano Benetton Collection to be shown in Venice during the Biennale of 2015
Durban Art Gallery
Dundee Museum
Durban University of Technology
Anglo America
Spar head office


Which new trends or South African artists do you find inspiring at the moment?
I find the amalgamation of graphics with fine art very inspirational as is allows for a playfulness of images even when confronting harrowing issues.
This also facilitates the co-mingling of different styles and mediums which opens many exciting visual dialogs.

Which South African deceased artist do you most admire and why?
Andrew Verster was a Durban artist who died in 2020. During my 34 years in the city I only have the warmest memories of this gentle and inspirational man. He had a generosity about him that offered so many artists support and inspiration which was also present in his painting. He explored so many platforms including painting, printmaking, fashion and theatre design.
He was also courageous about gender issues and was not scared to openly paint about his homosexuality in the 1980’s, a very brave thing to do in South Africa in those times.

If you could only have one piece of art in your life, what would it be?
Impossible for me to say which one but definitely a Rembrandt van Rijn, my absolute hero!

Pick three artists who you would be honored to exhibit with – and why
Ruhan Jansen Van Vuuren, Christiaan Diedericks and Clive Van Den Berg are just a few of the many.  All three are wonderful examples of true creative that truly explore their mediums while being technically brilliant. They are ambitious and unbelievably professional in the work they produce. I also find all three artists work incredibly moving, beautiful and inspirational.

How did you get started? Did you always want to be an artist?
One of the main reasons is that I am dyslexic which made the visual world make sense. While I was I child I wanted to pursue almost every profession but in matric I realised that making art was who I was and how I made sense of the world. Due to financial reasons I did pursue other professions along the way. But since 2005 I have been involved full time with the arts as a painter, teacher and curator. With the coronavirus pandemic upheaval it pushed me in the direction of pursuing art making full time which has been an incredibly liberating experience.

What are some of the key themes you explore in your work?
Compassion, I attempt to make art that includes a human warmth that I believe is so important for the healing and understanding of humanity.
Technical ability, I am forever pushing myself to improve my painting techniques as I believe that there is magic and content to be found in the astute application of material.
Contemporary culture, this is a growing interest of mine, how common objects in our life are able to evoke powerful emotions.

What should people know about your art that they can’t tell from looking at it?
When I put a painting out into the public arena I don’t really have any other information to give the viewer. I am very aware that everyone interprets paintings in their own unique way. It’s something I have had to accept, once they are out there they take on another meaning and I need to be ok with that.
Our past experiences and psyche determine how we respond to images, each person will process a work of art in a different way. I have had viewers see very different things in my work than I intended, their view was no less valuable than mine.
Having said all that, I do have a personal story behind each work that people often like to know out of interest or for visual clues. Each work has a different story that is derived from an incident of chapter of my life.

Tell us more about your creative process.
My creative process is one that is intensely internal, which I need solitude and an emotional still to achieve. Through many hours of painting I have been fortunate in finding a way of achieving this state even through difficult times. I am very disciplined in my process which has served me well. I am fortunate though as there is little to procrastinate about when I start my day as each day is a new and exciting day. Opening myself up to the need to learn from each work allows for a day full of exploration and learning. 
I am very ruthless with myself and am not afraid to discard or start again. I aim to paint with each mark having intent, never just hoping for the best. 

Do you believe an artist should use their platform to influence society? Why?
Not necessarily, for myself I try and be as authentic to myself as possible and if the works influence then so be it.
Many artists have prejudicial views that can also influence society in a very negative way so it a contentious issue.

Do you have a favourite or most meaningful work?
No not at all, each time I shift in myself different works take on different values. I also have very little value in my work once I have finished a painting as the next painting occupies my attention. I paint with ambition, trying for each painting to improve my understanding of the medium and the visual world. There is never an end as there is so much to learn and explore!

What is your greatest achievement as an artist to date? 
I don’t have one in particular, each day I am grateful that people want to buy my work and that I have the privilege to paint every day! For me that is the greatest achievement

What are your aspirations for the future?
Just to carry on doing what I am doing but to further my knowledge with new mediums and more sculpture. I would also like explore more contemporary mediums and subjects. I feel that I am far from achieving a slick cohesive “product” that I have a yearning to achieve.