Full Biography
Rossouw van der Walt lives and works from his studio in
Botriver, Western Cape, South Africa.
Rossouw van der Walt’s work shows tempered realism, not exactly naturalism. In art theoretical circles it is maintained that the return to figuration after the abstraction of late modernism is one of the hallmarks of the postmodernist ‘style’ that we are experiencing currently. After the so-called ‘dead-end’ of art of the 1970s, during the 1980s many international artists such as Julian Schnabel, Georg Baselitz and David Salle started working mainly figuratively.
Van der Walt works very much within a context of the expressed body, without necessarily following an expressive style. His work shows a certain existentialism and irony as for instance in the imagery of the pregnant woman, carrying precious life, covered by cockroaches synonymous with death and decay. The work suggests that every living creature is mortal and has limited ‘shelf life’. Very much like the British artist Lucien Freud, sexuality is dealt with as a state of being, a specific boundary situation sited in time.
A particular characteristic of Van der Walt’s work is its fragility, an aspect that suggests the fragility of the human condition. His work shows a certain existentialism and irony; and very much like the British artist
Lucien Freud, sexuality is dealt with as a state of being, a specific boundary situation sited in time.
His work is in private collections around the world including New York, Canada, Austria, Abu Dhabi, England, Germany and New Zealand.
BORN: 1979-09-27
1997
Matriculated from Garsfontein High School
Received award for best art student in matric
1999
Studied fine arts at the University of Pretoria
Started to work with sculptor Angus Taylor at Dionysus Sculpture Works, working on several projects including sculptures for Caesars Casino, as well as casting bronze for a number of South African sculptors
2001 Awarded for technical excellence at the annual PPC young sculptor awards
Traveled extensively through India and Nepal
2002
Participated in a three-man exhibition “Oer Baan” at the Open Window Art Gallery in Pretoria
Exhibited at the annual Kempton Park Fine Arts Awards
Participated in the exhibition “People, Planet, Prosperity” in ABSA Gallery Johannesburg
Exhibited at WAM [SASOL Art Festival], work acquired by SASOL
Award for “Best Sculpture On Exhibition” at PPC young sculpture Awards
2003 Exhibited two sculptures at the ABSA L’Atelier 2003; both sculptures sold to private collectors
2004
Group show at the Secret Gallery, Pretoria
Exhibiting at the ABSA L’Atelier 2004
Two-man Show with Angus Taylor at Wizards Gallery in Johannnesburg
Two-man Show with Lionel Smith at Gordart Gallery in Johannesburg
2005 Exhibited at Ekhuruleni fine art awards
2006 Three man show at Fried Contemporary, Pretoria
2007
Exhibition at Magpie Gallery, Irene
Exhibition at Dorpstaat Gallery, Stellenbosch
Permanent exhibit at Grande Provence Sculpture Garden, Franschhoek
2008
Exhibition at Christopher Moller Fine Arts Gallery, Cape Town
Participated in the first Focus Sculpture Exhibition
Participated in the ReflectRefuel to celebrate the Association of Arts Pretoria’s
60th year of existence
Commissioned for a life size sculpture by the Apartheid Museum for the new
Truth and Reconciliation Commission wing of the museum
2009 Exhibited at Fried Contemporary with Dianne Victor and Johan Moolman
2010 –
2014
Group show at University of Johannesburg
Took part in two Rooftop exhibitions curated by Gordon Froud
Aardklop Arts Festival
Commissioned by Apartheid Museum for a lifesize sculpture for the newTRC wing
PPC Cement Group Show of previous winners
Various group shows at Pretoria Association of Arts