BIOGRAPHY
GUY PIERRE DU TOIT
(b. 1958 Rustenburg, South Africa)
Guy du Toit graduated from the University of Pretoria with a BA (Fine Art) Degree, receiving a distinction in sculpture. He uses a wide range of media in his sculptures, including bronze, stone, wood and steel, and draws in pen, ink and charcoal. He has exhibited extensively, both locally and internationally, and has been consistently supported by private and public collectors, institutions, academics and fellow artists.
Honoured with several awards, he curates and adjudicates exhibitions and lectures at several institutions, including Pelmama Academy in Soweto, Pretoria University, Johannesburg and Pretoria Technikon, and the Johannesburg School of Art, Ballet, Drama and Music. He gives workshops throughout South Africa and has been involved in community projects, seminars and symposia.
Guy du Toit’s apparent irreverence can obfuscate the fact that he is undoubtedly one of South Africa’s most accomplished sculptors. “Liberated” (as he says) by the advent of democracy in South Africa from having to concern himself and his art with the notions of identity, he has happily turned his attention to “less provincial” pursuits like reveling in form, concept and media for their own sakes. Du Toit uses the unexpected juxtaposition of bronze casts of universal, everyday found (and made-to-look-found) objects to invite his audience to invent dialogue themselves. Du Toit’s hares have also become a popular series exploring form through playful bronze renderings of hares who sit and ponder their thoughts, play, dance or box with each other- each holding a unique character and endearing quality.
EDUCATION
1982 BAFA, University of Pretoria, with a distinction in sculpture
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2023
Hare & Now, solo, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa
2022
3D in 22: South African Contemporary Sculpture, group show, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa
Spring, group show, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa
Things I’d like to remember, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
Summer Sculpture Exhibition, group show, Riverhill Gardens, UK
2021
Oasis, 25th anniversary exhibition, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
Spring show, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa
On A Roll, solo, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
Summer 2021, Everard Read, London, UK
2020
And all the hares came out to play, Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg
Bronze, Steel, Stone & Bone, group exhibition, Everard Read, London, UK
Odyssey, online group show, Everard Read, South Africa & UK
2019
Winter, group exhibition, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
Vertical Animal, group exhibition, Hermanus Fyn Arts Festival, Hermanus, South Africa
2018
Good Hare Day, solo, Everard Read, London, UK
2017
Off the wall, group exhibition, Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg
2016
Hare There and Everywhere, Everard Read, Johannesburg
Bronze, Steel & Stone II, Everard Read, London, UK
2015
Bronze, Steel and Stone, Everard Read, Johannesburg
2014
Sculpture of Summer III, group show, Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa
Southern Guild and Design, Basel Miami, USA
The Orchard Walk, Tokara Wine Estate sculpture garden, South Africa
2013
Centenary Exhibition, Everard Read, Johannesburg
Possessed, group show, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
After the Rainbow Nation, group show, Nirox Sculpture Park, Gauteng, South Africa
2012
Small Works, group show at Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
Solo show at Tokara, Cape Town, South Africa
2011
The Length of a Piece of String, solo show at Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
Surplus to requirements, group exhibition, Slade School of Fine Art, South Africa
Alchemy, group exhibition, Upstairs @ Bamboo, Johannesburg, South Africa
History, group show, Fried Contemporary, Pretoria, South Africa
2010
View from the South, group show at Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
Twenty, group show, Nirox Sculpture Park, Gauteng, South Africa
Two Thousand and Ten Reasons to Live in a Small Town, group show, VANSA
2009
Sex, Power, Money, group show at Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
3, with Wilma Cruise & Gordon Froud, Naude Modern, Pretoria, South Africa
2007
Little Deaths, three person show, Fried Contemporary, Pretoria, South Africa
Figures in a Landscape, with Johann du Plessis, Gallery at Grande Provence, Franschhoek, South Africa
2004 Three person exhibition (with Johan Moolman and Ivan du Toit), Gordart, Johannesburg, South Africa
Two person exhibition (with Judith Mason), SA Arts Association, Pretoria, South Africa
2003
Earthworks/Claybodies, (with Deborah Bell, Wilma Cruise, Josephine Ghesa), Pretoria Art Museum, South Africa
2001
Observations, group show with Wilma Cruise & Diane Victor, The Open Window, Pretoria, South Africa
2000
Strata (an exhibition with Egon Tania), Bamboo, Johannesburg, South Africa
1999
Objects of Desire. The Open Window Contemporary Art Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
Conversation, The Open Window Contemporary Art Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
1988
Klein Karoo National Art Festival, Oudtshoorn, South Africa
Prestige Exhibition, The Association of the Friends of the Pretoria Art Museum, South Africa
1996
Opening Exhibition, Open Window Art Academy, Pretoria, South Africa
1995
Images of Metal, South African Touring Exhibition, South Africa
Space/(Dis)place, Africus Biennial, Electric Workshop, Johannesburg, South Africa
1994
Contemporary Art from South Africa, Deutsche Aerospace, Munich, Germany
Art Alive 94, Ruddell Theatre, Pretoria, South Africa
Moving Experiences, Everard Read Contemporary, Johannesburg
Toured Holland and Germany
1993
Winner of FNB Vita Art Now Prize, Johannesburg, South Africa
Natural History Museum, Taipei, Taiwan
Solo Exhibition, Everard Read Contemporary, Johannesburg, South Africa
1990
Sol Plaatje Sculpture Award Exhibition, Mafikeng, South Africa
1989
Images of Wood, Johannesburg Art Gallery, South Africa
AWARDS
1994 Kempton Park/Tembisa Annual Art Competition, Third Prize
1993 FNB Vita Art Now, Overall Winner
1990 Volkskas Atelier, Merit Award
1989 Sol Plaatje Sculpture Award, Sculpture Award
1988 Volkskas Atelier, Merit Award
International Exhibition of Miniature Art, del Bello Gallery, Toronto, Honorary Mention
1987 Style Lighting Design Award, Lighting Award
Hans Merensky Foundation Wood Sculpture Competition, Merit Award
Corona del Mar Young Artist Award, Sculpture Award
1986 Vita Art Now
1985 Hans Merensky Foundation Wood Sculpture Competition, Joint winner with Koos den Houten
Johannesburg Art Museum Centenary Sculpture Competition, Finalist
1983 Emil Schweikerdt Bursary for a study tour of Europe.
1982 New Signatures, Sculpture Prize
Honorary Mention National Fine Arts Students Exhibition, University of the Witwatersrand
COLLECTIONS
ABSA
Alexander Forbes
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
Foundation for the Creative Arts
Gencor/Billiton
Gauteng Provincial Administration
Human Sciences Research Council
Durban Art Gallery
Mercedes Benz
Nampower
Namibia Art Museum
National Gallery, Cape Town
Pelmama Permanent Art Collection
Pietersburg Art Gallery
Port Elizabeth Art Gallery
Pretoria Art Museum
Durban Technikon
Pretoria Technikon
Pretoria Boys High School
RMB
SABC
SANDF
Sasol Art Collection
Sasol Bloemfontein Museum
St Mary’s Girls School, Johannesburg
UNISA
University of the Free State
University of the Witwatersrand
University of Natal
University of Pretoria
Velocity Films
Virgin Airlines
Wits Business School
Wooltru
Women’s Monument, Union Building