HELMUT STARCKE

(b. 1935 Offenbach, Germany)

Starcke completed his apprenticeship at the Werbekunst Publicity Studio, Frankfurt. He then joined J Walter Thompson, Frankfurt, as a Graphic designer.  He then moved to Cape Town and worked with P N Barrett Advertising in Cape Town and Lindsay Smithers (Cape) Pty Advertising, Cape Town. His first one-man exhibition of paintings was in Cape Town.

Starcke then joined Marketing Promotions Inc. He was selected for the Venice Biennale in 1964. He had another one-man exhibition at the Lindchi Gallery, Johannesburg. He participated in the Contrast exhibition of drawings opposite paintings by Stanley Pinker, Cape Town.

Starcke was a founder member of the Artists' Gallery, Cape Town. He was again selected for the Venice Biennale in 1966. He participated in the first South African Breweries Exhibition and received a Bronze Medal for his painting Social Page.

He once again had a one-man exhibition at the Lindchi Gallery, Johannesburg, and one at the Artists' Gallery, Cape Town. He also collaborated with Kevin Atkinson and Richard Wake on an environmental project.

Starcke then started own Graphic Design Studio and participated in the second South African Breweries Exhibition. This time, he was awarded a Silver Medal for his painting Firebird. He also participated in a metal sculpture on Green Market Square, Cape Town. He was selected for the Sao Paulo Biennale. He was also invited to teach Graphic Design at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, after which he was appointed a full-time staff member at the Michaelis School of Fine Art.

Starcke has published a Portfolio of 5 screenprints entitled haystacks, and contributed to the portfolio entitled Cape Town in Image and Words, published by Fine Art Folios. Other one-man exhibitions were held at Fabian Fine Art Gallery, Cape Town, the University of Stellenbosch, the Irma Stern Museum (entitled Time and Nature of Photographic Information), the SA Association of Arts, Cape Town, the Everard Read Gallery and Vita Art Now Exhibition, The Johannesburg Art Gallery

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2013      Elegies to a Slender Scrub, CIRCA on Jellicoe, Johannesburg, South Africa

1991      Solo, Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

1988      One man exhibition held at the SA Association of Arts, Cape Town, South Africa

1983      Time and Nature of Photographic Information solo exhibition, Irma Stern Museum, University of Cape Town, South                 Africa

1978      One man exhibition held at Fabian Fine Art Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

1977      One man exhibition held at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa

1966     One man exhibition, Lindchi Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

1965      One man exhibition, Artists’ Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

1964     One man exhibition, Lindchi Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2016     Opening Gallery Exhibition, CIRCA Gallery London, UK

2015     Homage, group exhibition, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa 

                Empire, group exhibition, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa 

                Summer Show,  group exhibition, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa 

2010      Index 40: Leading Works from the Sanlam Art Collection - Smac Art Gallery, Stellenbosch, South Africa

2007      Abstract South African Art from the Isolation Years: Part 1, Smac Art Gallery, Stellenbosch, South Africa

2003      Contact Zones -Colonial & Contemporary, Stevenson, Cape Town, South Africa

1990      Vita Art Now Exhibition, The Johannesburg Art Gallery,Johannesburg, South Africa

1969      Contrast exhibition of drawings opposite paintings by Stanley Pinker, Cape Town, South Africa