Biography

Liza Grobler

South Africa

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Mixed media

Liza Grobler

Born 1974 in Cape Town, South Africa
Lives and works in Cape Town

Since receiving her Masters Degree in Fine Art with distinction from Stellenbosch University in 1999, Grobler has worked in a diverse range of artistic practices, from traditional craft techniques to site-specific work. Her art facilitates a conversation between image, language and daily life. She is a part-time drawing lecturer at the UCT School of Architecture.



Solo exhibitions:

  • 2013. Interrupted Daydreams, Spier, Stellenbosch
  • 2012. White Termite, Brundyn & Gonsalves, Cape Town
  • 2010. Visitor (The Square): a Solo Exhibition in Two Parts, iArt Wembley Project Space and iArt Gallery (now Brundyn + Gonsalves), Cape Town
  • 2009. Visitor, Irma Stern Museum (in collaboration with 23 artists), Cape Town
  • 2007. 9 Chicks & a Dick, AVA, Cape Town
  • 2005. Groeisel #1, Outlet, Pretoria
  • 2004. Play with me, AVA, Cape Town
  • 2003. I can't see the wood for the trees, so I'm taking a line for a very long walk, João Ferreira Gallery, Cape Town
  • 2002. Almost a Valentine, Chelsea Gallery, Wynberg
  • 2000. The Garbage men wear gloves, Chelsea Gallery, Wynberg


Selected group exhibitions:

  • 2013. 5 Years in Print, Warren Editions, Cape Town
  • 2013. Chance favours the Connected Mind, collaboration with Barbara Wildenboer. 
  • 2013. Amelia Johnson Contemporary, Hong Kong
  • 2013. Stellenbosch Revisited, co-curated by Marna Hattingh and Liza Grobler for Die Woordfees, Stellenbosch
  • 2012. Summer Salon, Brundyn & Gonsalves, Cape Town
  • 2012. Tjorts/Cheers! drawing exhibition after a poem by Danie Marais, curated by Marna Hattingh and Liza Grobler,  AVA, Cape Town
  • 2011. Alptraum’ Travelling drawing exhibition: Berlin, Los Angeles, Cape Town
  • 2011. Open Books, iArt Gallery, Cape Town
  • 2011. Collection 13, SMAC Art Gallery Cape Town
  • 2011. Johannesburg Art Fair, Brundyn + Gonsalves
  • 2010. Divisions: Aspects of South African Art (1948-2010), SMAC Gallery, Stellenbosch
  • 2011. The Menippean Uprising, curated by Pierre Fouché and Hentie van der Merwe, Blank Projects, Cape Town
  • 2011. Frans Masereel Centre Annual Printmaking Show, Kasterlee, Belgium
  • 2011. Twenty Years of South African Sculpture, curated by Andrew Lamprecht, Nirox Sculpture Park, Cradle of Humankind
  • 2011. Johannesburg Art Fair, SMAC Art Gallery
  • 2009. Black: the antithesis of the fraudulent sensuality of culture's façade. An experiment in voluntary asceticism, Blank Projects
  • 2009. Warren Editions, Monotypes and etchings at Curious, Whetstone and Frankley, Cape Town
  • 2008. The Bijou Burns Again, UCA Gallery, Observatory
  • 2011. Women in Craft, Spier Estate, Stellenbosch
  • 2007. Common Ground, Lönnstrom Contemporary Art Museum in collaboration with Jeanne Hoffman, Rauma, Finland
  • 2007. South African Art on Paper, Gallery Barry Keldoulis, Sydney, Australia
  • 2007. TACT, Artspace, Pretoria
  • 2006. STEEK, a two-person exhibition in collaboration with Barend de Wet, Blank Projects, Cape Town
  • 2006. ROEM, curated by Sandra Hanekom, interactive sculptures for Marthinus Basson’s production of ‘Die Storm’, KKNK, Oudtshoorn
  • 2006. Flesh!, curated by Chris Diedericks, KKNK, Oudtshoorn
  • 2006. the blank paper project as part of Cape 07, Blank Projects, Cape Town
  • 2006. Just like home in collaboration with Norman O’ Flynn, Solothurn, Switzerland
  • 2006. 2006 - travelling exhibition, coordinated by Norman O’Flynn, Bell-Roberts Contemporary, Cape Town & Art on Paper, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • 2005. Of Want and Desire, João Ferreira Gallery, Cape Town
  • 2005. Cape Biennale at blank projects, curated by Andrew Lamprecht, Cape Town
  • 2005. The 5th International Florence Biennial for Contemporary Art, Fortezza de Bastilica, Florence, Italy
  • 2005. Synergy, Michaelis Collection contemporary beaded designs- as part of the history of beads in Africa, Iziko Museum, Cape Town
  • 2004. Stolen Affections, Goethe Institute, Bahai, Brazil
  • 2004. Artomi, Omi, New York, USA
  • 2004. The Art of Drawing, Durbanville Cultural Centre, Durbanville
  • 2002. Low Rider, Polvo Art Studio, Chicago, USA
  • 2000. Majority Rules, Free Gallery, Glasgow, Scotland
  • 2000. YEA-R 2000, Chelsea Gallery, Wynberg


Selected site-specific projects:

  • 2013. Big Brother is Stunned, Woodstock Industrial Centre, Cape Town         
  • 2012. From Mooi uitsig to Mooiuitsig: an Artventure, with Hannah Paton + Swain Hoogervorst, commissioned by Lien Botha for Hangklip Art Week, Hangklip, Cape Town
  • 2010. Cocoon, Nirox Sculpture Park, Cradle of Humankind, Johannesburg
  • 2010. Imagination: for humans – The Laboratory for Recycled Revolutions, curated by Isa Suarez, Greatmore Art Walk, Cape Town
  • 2009. The 1-day Residency project in conjunction with ‘Visitor’ in collaboration 14 visiting artists at Irma Stern Museum, Cape Town
  • 2009. Gift, a picnic and lace making performance with Pierre Fouché, Cape Town
  • 2007. Afrikan Tähti/ Star of Africa - route and public intervention after a Finnish board game; in collaboration with Jeanne Hoffman, Rauma, Finland.
  • 2007. C-Units, in collaboration with Jeanne Hoffman, Big Bay
  • 2007. Icarus project, in collaboration with Norman O’ Flynn, Cape Town
  • 2006. Soft Rock Project, Sunset Beach, Cape Town
  • 2006. Teardrop Project, Solothurn, Switzerland
  • 2006. Heritage Cache, a site-specific group project coordinated by Cobus van Bosch and Arlene Amaler-Raviv, Cape Town
  • 2005. Groeisel no. 2, a crocheting performance and installation at the Aardklop Arts Festival, curated by Abrie Fourie, Potchefstroom
  • 2004. D.I.E.N.S. in collaboration Pierre Fouché, Norman O’Flynn and Johan Thom, a street intervention, KKNK, Oudtshoorn
  • 2003. Excess: Proudly South African, in collaboration with Jesus Macarena-Avila, Cape Town
  • 2002. Momentary Monument, in collaboration with art students, Rauma, Finland
  • 2002. Music Concrete-YDEsire Art Night, in collaboration with Jeanne Hoffman, the Cape of Good Hope Castle, Cape Town
  • 2002. Fantastic Rubbish, a mixed media installation, World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg
  • 2001. R.I.P, in collaboration with Jeanne Hoffman, Durbanville
  • 2001. Forest Cross, Dalsãsen forest, Norway
  • 1999. Oos Wes, Tuis Bes, curated by Mark Coetzee and Leze Hugo, Oudtshoorn Arts Festival, Oudtshoorn

 
Awards and residencies:

  • 2013. Invited for a two month residency at the Cité, Paris (February-March 2014)
  • 2013. Shortlisted for Woordfees Visual Arts Award
  • 2010. ABSA Atelier Finalist
  • 2009. Frans Masereel Printmaking Residency, Kastelee, Belgium
  • 2009. ABSA Atelier Finalist
  • 2008. ABSA Atelier Finalist
  • 2006. ABSA Atelier Finalist
  • 2006. Pro-Helvetia Residency, Altes Spital, Solothurn, Switzerland
  • 2006. Short-listed for Commonwealth Arts and Craft Award
  • 2005. ABSA Atelier Finalist
  • 2005. AVA Public Sculpture Competition
  • 2005. Selected for 3rd Brett Kebble Art Competition
  • 2005. 12Artist-in-residence, Bijou Art Studios, Cape Town
  • 2004. ARTOMI International Artists' Residency, Hudson, New York, USA
  • 2004 - 2003. Artist-in-residence, Greatmore Art Studios, Cape Town
  • 2002. Rauma Artists' in Residence, Finland
  • 2001. ABSA Atelier Finalist
  • 2001. UNESCO Ashberg Bursary: Nordic Artists' Centre Dale, Norway