BIOGRAPHY
LYNETTE BESTER
(b. 1978, Cape Town, South Africa)
Lynette Bester’s sculptures are made from everyday objects that are often crowd-sourced through online social media and word-of-mouth. This method of production allows for a degree of unpredictability in the final product and further informs the accumulative nature of the work.
Lynette Bester has achieved critical attention. She has exhibited actively in Cape Town, Johannesburg and abroad and has achieved notable attention for both local and international art competitions and residencies since completing a B.A. in F. A.1999, and an M.A. in F.A. (Cum Laude), 2002 both from University of Stellenbosch, South Africa.
EDUCATION
2000-2002
Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
Masters Degree in Fine Arts (Cum Laude), specializing in Sculpture under the supervision of Alan Alborough
1996-1999
Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
Bachelor’ Degree in Fine Arts (majoring in painting and print making) under the supervision of Vivian van der Merwe, Dr. Timo Smuts and Dr. Marion Arnold
1991-1995
Pinelands High School, Pinelands, Cape Town, South Africa
Matriculated with Senior Certificate
Second In the Western Cape for Art Practical and History
1985-1995
Frank Joubert Art Centre, Rondebosch, South Africa
Voluntary Student majoring in painting, mixed media, calligraphy and ceramics
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2010
Stalking the Familiar, AVA, 35 Church Street Cape Town, South Africa
2005
Heart, Dimensions Variable, Blank Projects, 198 Upper Buitengracht Street, Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, South Africa
2002
Wholes Cut Out, Cold Room, 158 Harrington Street, Cape Town, South Africa
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2016
Winter Collection, Group Show, Everard Read Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
2015
@Play, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
Small Canvas Project: Imago Mundi, at the Giorgio Cini Foundation of the in association with the Benetton Foundation. A fringe exhibition during the Venice Biennale and Film Festival, curated by Nadja Daehnke
Winter, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
EMPIRE, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
Telephone, an international arts game played by over 300 artists from 159 cities in 42 countries launched by the Satellite Collective
Cathedra/Chair Show, University of Johannesburg Gallery, curated by Gordon Froud, South Africa
Fear & Loss: The Industrial Karoo, curated by Katie du Toit at the Pretoria Art Museum, South Africa
2014
The Summer Show, Mount Nelson in collaboration with Everard Read, curated by Emma van der Merwe
Scintilla, Commune 1, Cape Town, South Africa
Cathedra/Chair Show, University of the North West Gallery, Potchefstroom, curated by Gordon Froud
Fear & Loss: The Industrial Karoo, curated by Katie du Toit at The Reservoir, Oliewenhuis Pretoria, South Africa
This Is Happening Now, Edinburgh International Fashion Festival curated by Jonathan Freemantle at the Gayfield Creative Spaces, Edinburgh
Origin, Hermanus FynArt Competition at Borcherd’s Finlayson, judged by Marilyn Martin and Brenton Marx
Small Canvas Project, in association with the Benetton Foundation, Curated by Nadja Daehnke
2013
Telephone, an international arts experiment in connectivity by the Satellite Collective curated by Nathan Langston, New York, USA
Committee's Choice, AVA, Cape Town, South Africa
Hermanus FynArt Fair, selected by Kirtsy Cockerill and Marilyn Martin
2012
The Summer Show, Curated by Joao Ferreira. Casa Labia, Muizenberg, South Africa
Our Father, curated by Kirsty Cockerill and Chantal Louw at the AVA, Cape Town, South Africa
Sounding Out, Curated by Kim Gurney and Thato Mogotsi at the Bag Factory, Fordsburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
2011
Celeste Prize International Art Competition Exhibition of Finalists at the Invisible Dog, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Natural Selection 1991 - 2011, curated by Kirsty Cockerill and Clare Butcher at the AVA, the second half of a commemorative exhibition in two parts in celebration of the AVA's 40 years
2010
Own Goal, a group exhibition in response to the Soccer World Cup, 2010 hosted by South Africa
CONCEPTUAL MATTERS and MATTERS CONCEPTUAL, A group exhibition and its sequel exhibition at the Erdmann Contemporary, Short Market Street, Cape Town, South Africa
2009
This Weekend...? A Performative Installation with the collaborative group, Continental . A National Arts Trust Initiative, Cape Cornwall, UK
In Black and White, at the Bell-Roberts Gallery, Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa
Social Pattern, at the Association of Visual Arts, Church Street, Cape Town, Curated by Kirsty Cockerill
Tussen Natuur en Avontuur, Suidoosterfees, Artscape, Cape Town. Curated by Liza Grobler
2008
Between Meaning and Matter, Bell-Roberts Gallery, Woodstock, South Africa
Baring: Association of Visual Arts, Church Street, Cape Town, South Africa
PRINT ’08, Bell-Roberts Gallery, Woodstock, South Africa
2007
The Salon Show, Lourensford Estate, Somerset West, Cape Town, Bell-Roberts Gallery, South Africa
Greenhouse: From Paint to Plastic, Lourensford Estate, Somerset West, Cape Town, Bell-Roberts Gallery, South Africa
Ball Sports, Association for Visual Arts, Church Street Cape Town, South Africa
Drawing x3 / Teken x 3, Rust and Vrede, Durbanville, Cape Town, with Corlie de Kock Wiesener and Christo Basson
ABSA Atelier, Finalist Exhibition, ABSA Towers, Johannesburg, Cape Town, South Africa
Without Master, with Eunice Geustyn at the Association of Visual Arts, Cape Town, South Africa
Paper and Me, with Michael Taylor, Adrienne van Eden, Marna Hattingh, Joanne Halse, Hannah Morris and Jeanne Hoffmann, at the Association of Visual Arts, Cape Town, South Africa
Am I a Painter? with Michael Taylor, Judith Hendy and Karen Cronje at Art B. Association of Visual Art, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa
2006
Waste at Work, Spier Wine Farm, Presented by Jeanetta Blignaut for COEO in association with Spier and Hollard Insurance
The Collage Show, What If The World, The Biscuit Mill, Albert Road, Woodstock, Curated by Micheal Taylor
The Cape Town Biennale 2006, Presented by Andrew Lamprecht, and Curated by: Kathy Coates at Blank Projects, Bo-Kaap, Cape Town South Africa
Sasol New Signatures at the Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria, South Africa
2005
Afetos Roubados / Stolen Affections, Goethe Institute, Bahai, Brazil
Thupelo, Workshop Open Day, AMAC, Cape Town, South Africa
2004
Absolute Finale, the 10th Absolute Vodka auction in aid of Artreach at the Association of Visual Arts, Cape Town, South Africa
Exfoliate, a print-making collaboration with Anthony Caywood, Norman O'Flynn, Madi Phala, Thembeka, Qangule, Sonja Rademeyer, Velile Soya, Barbara Wildenboer at Art. B. Association of Visual Arts, Belllville
2003
Absolut Moment, the 9th Absolut Vodka Auction in aid of Artreach at the Association of Visual Arts, cape Town, South Africa
Capsule Creative, a collaboration between artists, fashion, ilustartors and electronic music at Studio One, 186 Bree Street, Cape Town, South Africa
YDESIRE, The 4th Soft Serve Art Event, at the Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town, South Africa
Voyage: Vision, Image as Reality, Fashion Event at Studio One, 186 Bree Street, Cape Town, South Africa
2002
www.antsnest.com at Bang The Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
Section 53, Stellenbosch Masters Exhibition, at the Association of Visual Arts, Cape Town, South Africa
www.antsnest.com launch event at Bang The Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
Observatory Art Walk, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa
2000
New Signatures, regional Finalists Exhibition, Art B. Association of Visual Arts, Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa
RESIDENCIES AND WORKSHOPS
2013
Africa Centre Artist in Residency programme finalist. Residency awarded for 18th Street, Santa Monica, California June 2013
2009
In Transit: Post-It Project, a day residency, 13 October, as part of Liza Grobler's exhibition VISITOR at the Irma Stern, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa. www.dayresidencies@blogspot.com
Brisons Voer, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, with Collaborative Group: CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
2008
Dwayer International Workshop for Women, Atelier D’Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt
2006-7
Tollgate Plaza, Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa
2005
Bijou Art Studios, Observatory, South Africa
Thupelo Workshop, AMAC Studios, Cape Town, South Africa.
2003
Exfoliate, Coordinated by Norman O’ Flynn at Greatmore Studios, Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa.
GRANTS
2001
Merit Bursary from the University of Stellenbosch for the Completion of Masters Degree
2009
The National Trust , United Kingdom, sponsorship of a collaborative performative installation investigation of distance and proximity in relation to communication with the collaborative group, CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST.
2009
Bursary awarded for the submission of Doctoral proposal by the Dean at the University of Stellenbosch.
COLLABORATIONS
2010
Conceptual Matters/Matters Conceptual, at the Heidi Erdmann Contemporary, with Liza Grobler, Nomthunzi Mshabala, Elize Vosgatter, Heidee Nel, Kilmany-Joe Liversage
2009
Continental Breakfast, Balloons and public memory performative piece in England Cape Cornwall, Priests Cove as part of This Weekend? Bosarts event. www.thisweekend.org.uk
In Transit: Post-It Project, a day-residency at Visitor with Liza Grobler, www.dayresidencies@blogspot.com at the Irma Stern Museum
Snail Mail Project: a long term interactive writing project over distance
2003
Exfoliate, collaborative collage piece with Madi Phala curated by Norman O’Flynn at Greatmore Studios
PUBLICATIONS
Selected Articles and Online Publications on Personal Work:
2010
Alledaagse herskep om verbeelding teuels te gee, in Die Burger, Cobus van Bosch, 11 November, page 12.
Hands Up For This One, in Mail and Guardian, Miles Keylock, 9 April 2010, page 12
2009
Suidooserfees, in Die Burger, Letitia Pople, February, 2009
2008
The New Bell-Roberts Gallery: If Meaning Really Matters, in Art Times, Melvin Minnaar, July 2008, Issue 7, Vol 3, page 9.
When Meaning is the Matter, in The Good Weekend, Veronica Wilkinson, 6 July 2008, page 10.
Engaging Art Exhibition Bares All, in Cape Times, Melvin Minnaar, 26 July 2008
Between Meaning and Matter, The Bell-Roberts Gallery" , in Sawubona: in-flight magazine, Zenzile Khoisan September 2008, page 166.
2007
Interne landskappe Priemend Ondersoek, Kunstenaars se werk slaan opwindende koerse in, Die Burger; Theo Kleynhans, 10 November 2007
Kunswerke Gee Aan Flaura ‘n eie Stem, in Die Burger: Theo Kleynhans, 21 November 2007 Art Heat, May 2007
2006
Exhibition: Collages. Proof That Small Can Be Smart, Tonight - Online Cape Times, Melvyn Minnaar, 23 November 2006
Practical Art: Arty Spin Put On Issue Of Waste, Cape Times, page 12, Melvyn Minnaar 27 November 2006
Waste At Work Catalogue 2006
2005
Heart of Bester’s Sculpture in Its Cleverness, Cape Times, page 8, Melvyn Minnaar, 21 September 2005
Increasing the Awareness of the Incredibly Therapeutic Effects of Artwork, Cape Argus, page 16 , 22 September 2005.
WRITTEN CONTRIBUTIONS
2011
Kuns Uit Alledaagse Materiale Ontwrig: die werk van die Meksikaanse kunstenaar, Hector Zamore, in: Die Burger, 22 March 2011, 12
2006
Dimensions Variable, in: Langerman, F. (ed.) 2006, ARTWORKS IN PROGRESS Journal of the Staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, Volume 8, 2006
2002
Wholes Cut Out, in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Masters Degree in Fine Arts at the University of Stellenbosch, supervised by Alan Alborough at the University of Stellenbosch.
1999
The Construction of Memory, B. A. Degree Thesis supervised by Dr. Marion Arnold at the University of Stellenbosch
AWARDS
2014
Finalist for the Hermanus FynArt Competition judged by Marilyn Martin and Brenton Marx
2013
Winner of the Hermanus FynArt Competition sponsored by the South African National Space Agency and judged by Marilyn Martin and Kirsty Cockerill
2012
Africa Centre Artist in Residency programme, awarded for 18th Street, Santa Monica, California June 2013
100 CURATORS 100 DAYS, recognising 1,000 artists for their outstanding work from over 60,000 artists that are currently exhibited on Saatchi Online, from 18 July 2012. www.saatchionline.com/100curators
2011
Finalist for Celeste Prize 2012, International Art Competition, New York
2010
Nominee for the MTN New Contemporaries Biannual National Art Award
Saatchi Online Critics Choice, by Georgia Haagsma, 13 September 2010.
2007
ABSA L'Atelier, Top Ten Finalist with Hammer Without Master, (piano) 2007
2006
New Signatures Finalist with Heart: Dimensions Variable, 2005, and Untitled (violin), 2005
1999
New Signatures Finalist, Art B. Association of Visual Arts Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa
1995
Second Prize in the Fairheads Trust Art Competition hosted at the Michaelis School Of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, South Africa
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