ELIZABETH BALCOMB

Elizabeth Balcomb is a self-taught South African artist known for her haunting figurative sculptures.

Balcomb grew up on the banks of the Umgeni River in the Kwazulu-Natal Midlands of South Africa. Intensely drawn to animals and the natural world, she studied Nature Conservation and spent much of her youth communing with wild creatures, some of them human. 

After graduating she worked at various nature reserves in South Africa and Zambia, focussing on environmental education, before becoming a full-time artist in 2010. Her emergence as an artist was during a period when she lived for over a decade in an isolated log cabin with her partner and son. 

Much of Balcomb’s work is a re-interpretation of classical sculpture using the language of the Renaissance to explore and expose elements of human nature. Her narrative incorporates aspects of dying and rebirth and matters of identity and personal value. She views the artist's path as an existential conundrum, constantly questioning the meaning of her work in relation to her own value as a human being and that of the natural world.

Therianthropes are a recurring theme in her work.

Balcomb lives and works between her 2 homes/studios in Durban and in the mist belt forest of Byrne Valley in the Kwazulu-Natal midlands of South Africa.

She works in clay and casts limited editions into bronze.

Collections

Pretoria Art Museum, South Africa
The Cryogenic Industries Group, California
Sasol Collection, South Africa
Mosan Art Gallery Collection, South Korea

 Exhibitions

2019

Knysna Fine Arts – Knysna – Group show

Everard Read- Franschhoek – Group show
The Platform Gallery, KZN- Group show

2018

 Everard Read – Cape Town – Group show
 Knysna Fine Arts – Knysna – Group show
 Everard Read- Franschhoek – Group show

2017

Bosch In Africa, Curated by Sandra Hanekom.  Stellenbosh.
Everard Read- Franschhoek – Group show
Falmouth  Fine Art Gallery, UK – Group show
Knysna Fine Arts- Knysna – Group show
‘Bronze, Steel, Stone’ – Everard Read Johannesburg

2016

“Wayward Dreams” Imbizo Gallery, Ballito
Loading Bay Gallery Exhibition, Durban
Turbine Art Fair, Johannesburg
Studio 3 exhibition (The Foyer), Durban
DF Contemporary Opening exhibition, Cape Town
Longmynd Gallery, Women's Day Exhibition, Hillcrest
Johannesburg Art Fair (represented by Everard Read Gallery)

2015

‘That Art Fair’, Diedericks Faber Fine Art Collective, Salt River
‘Bring Your Own Identity’ , Trent Read, Knysna Fine Art Gallery
Unisa Space Art Gallery, CANSA Association. Pretoria
KKNK, With the Knysna Fine Art Gallery, Outdshoorn
Imibala Art Gallery , Elske Badenhorst, Somerset West
“Auguries of Innocence” Sasol New Signatures Solo Exhibition, Pretoria art museum
“Bronze, Steel & Stone” Everard Read, Johannesburg

2014

“Exhale” CURATED BY Grace Kotze, Artspace Durban Gallery
Studio Gesso, Mellville Johannesburg
Sasol New Signatures, Pretoria Art Museum
Turbine Art Fair
“Flippin Vlambaar” Curated by Alex Hamilton, Prince Albert
“Anthropology 2” Curated by Grace Kotze
“Anthology” Curated by Carol Lee
Grande Provence Gallery, Franschoek.

2013

“Velvet” Curated by Christiaan Diedericks, Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK) Outdshoorn
“Intersections”, Strydom Gallery, George
“Homosapien “ Curated by Grace Kotze, KZNSA
Invited to represent South African sculptors in the 11 International Art and Culture Symposium at the Mosan Art Museum in South Korea with Christiaan Diedericks.
“Angels” Grande Provence, Franschhoek.

2012

“Interrelations” , Artisan Gallery, Durban
“Faces” , Artspace , Durban
Knysna Fine Art Gallery
Ceramic Association Regional Exhibition, Artspace, Durban

2011

“Memories” , Artisan Gallery, Durban
Ceramic Association Regional Exhibition, Artspace, Durban
“Rainbow Nation”, Durban Art Gallery, Durban

2010

“Jabulisa” curated by The Natal Arts Trust Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg
Ceramic Association Regional Exhibition , Artspace, Durban
Ceramic Association National Exhibition, Franschoek Gallery, Franschoek

Awards

2010 - Trailblaizer Award, Ceramic Association
2011 – Premium Award, Ceramic Association
2012 – Merit Award, Ceramic Association
2014 – Winner of the Sasol New Signatures Award