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
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
Matriculated with Senior Certificate
Second In the Western Cape for Art Practical and History
Voluntary Student majoring in painting, mixed media, calligraphy and ceramics
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2010
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
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
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
Committee's Choice, AVA, Cape Town, South Africa
2012
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
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
CONCEPTUAL MATTERS and MATTERS CONCEPTUAL, A group exhibition and its sequel exhibition at the Erdmann Contemporary, Short Market Street, Cape Town, South Africa
2009
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
Baring: Association of Visual Arts, Church Street, Cape Town, South Africa
PRINT ’08, Bell-Roberts Gallery, Woodstock, South Africa
2007
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
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
Thupelo, Workshop Open Day, AMAC, Cape Town, South Africa
2004
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
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
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
RESIDENCIES AND WORKSHOPS
2013
2009
Brisons Voer, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, with Collaborative Group: CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST
2008
2006-7
2005
Thupelo Workshop, AMAC Studios, Cape Town, South Africa.
2003
GRANTS
2001
2009
2009
COLLABORATIONS
2010
2009
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
PUBLICATIONS
Selected Articles and Online Publications on Personal Work:
2010
Hands Up For This One, in Mail and Guardian, Miles Keylock, 9 April 2010, page 12
2009
2008
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
Kunswerke Gee Aan Flaura ‘n eie Stem, in Die Burger: Theo Kleynhans, 21 November 2007 Art Heat, May 2007
2006
Practical Art: Arty Spin Put On Issue Of Waste, Cape Times, page 12, Melvyn Minnaar 27 November 2006
2005
Increasing the Awareness of the Incredibly Therapeutic Effects of Artwork, Cape Argus, page 16 , 22 September 2005.
WRITTEN CONTRIBUTIONS
2011
2006
2002
1999
AWARDS
2014
2013
2012
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
2010
Saatchi Online Critics Choice, by Georgia Haagsma, 13 September 2010.
2007
2006
1999
1995