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Simthandile Creates

Artist Bio

Simthandile Witbooi is a mixed media artist from Langa, Cape Town. She has been making art for as long as she can remember and partook in art classes from Primary till she matriculated with 90%+ distinctions in Art and Design. She is currently completing her Psychology Honours at the University of Cape Town.

Artist Statement

Simthandile’s acrylic paint and pencil colour portraits depict people of colour in a diverse, contemporary, and aesthetic light. The portrait reflects the individual’s uniqueness, and the merging of artistic techniques mirrors their often unseen multidimensionality. In exposing the multifaceted nature of subjects, she invites the viewer to embrace this reality — often neglected in past and present representations and interactions. The work thus challenges biases or stereotypes the viewer may hold or have the propensity
to make.

Education

2020-2022

BA degree in Psychology, Philosophy and English Literary Studies at the University of Cape Town

2015-2019

Distinctions (90%+) in matric final for Visual Arts and Design at Rustenburg Girls’ High

2009-2014

6 years of art classes at Mountain Road Primary

Exhibitions, Awards, Publications & Experience

2022

  • Summer Salon Group exhibition, Nel gallery, Cape Town
  • Work Experience at StateoftheArt gallery, Cape Town
  • Group exhibition, Art in the Park, Company Gardens, Cape Town
  • Group Exhibition, Cape Town Civic Centre
  • Winter Curation, Nel Gallery, Cape Town
  • Group exhibition with City of Cape Town Emerging Arts Programme at VnA Waterfront
  • Group exhibition at Fame Week Africa, CTICC centre
  • Group exhibition “Ground | Vista | Vessel” with Nel Gallery and q.studio at Riebeek Valley

2021

  • Group exhibition, Empire café, Muizenburg, Cape Town
  • Group exhibition, CoLab22, Observatory, Cape Town
https://www.instagram.com/p/CONK7Z3L13-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
  • Zoom Guest Lecture, 3rd year graphic design students, Nelson Mandela University
  • Group exhibition at Houseof_Co, Cape Town
  • Work experience at StateoftheArt gallery, Cape Town
  • Group exhibition, Popup Collab, 6 Spin Street Gallery, Cape Town

  • Summer Salon Group exhibition at Nel gallery, Cape Town

2020

  • ‘Individuation’ published in Zenith Lit Mag, Iowa City, United States

2019

  • ‘In the eye of the beholder’ published in Mosaic edited by Ava Balis
  • Amy Steyl Award for Art/Design at Rustenburg Girls’ High
  • ‘The Piscean’ and ‘Preludes’ on loan for a year, Principal Gates office, Rustenburg Girls’ High School, Rondebosch
  • Published on the Art Times website
RUSTENBURG GIRLS HIGH (2), Cape Town, Western Cape
  • “I am depth, you’d drown” published in the 2019 Dec/Jan Art Times issue
  • Group exhibition with Peter Van Straten & Neeske Alexander, The Framing place, Observatory