| CECIL SKOTNES |
| 1926 | Born East London, South Africa |
| 1944 - 45 | Served in South African Forces in Italian Campaign |
| 1946 | Studied painting under Henrich Steiner, Florence. Attended drawing classes at Witwatersrand Technical College. |
| 1947 - 1950 | BA Fine Arts degree, University of the Witwatersrand |
| 1948 | Exhibited at South African Academy |
| 1951 | Married Thelma Carter and visited Italy, Switzerland and France. Worked in London |
| 1952 | Appointed Cultural Officer, Johannesburg Non-European Affairs Department and Secretary, Johannesburg Local Committee for Non-European Adult Education, at the Polly Street Adult Centre. |
| 1953 | Polly Street Workshop Exhibition - University of the Witwaterrand |
| 1954 | After the State clamped down on adult education for blacks, concentrated on art teaching activities resulting in the first professional urban art school in South Africa Polly Street exhibition at Helen de Leeuw’s Craftman’s Market opened by Father Trevor Huddleston. First professional exhibition of paintings with Larry Scully at Whippman’s Gallery, Johannesburg |
| 1956 | Worked with pupil, Sydney Kumalo, in St. Peter Claver Roman Catholic Mission Church, Seeisoville, Kroonstad |
| 1957 |
Organised the establishment of a Muusic Library for choral and instrumental groups in Johannesburg
First one-man exhibition at Pretoria Art Centre, opened by Walter Battiss Represented South Africa at Sao Paulo Biennale Exhibition |
| 1958 |
Participated in South African exhibition, Rhodes National Gallery, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) Represented South Africa at the Venice Biennale |
| 1959 | Solo exhibition of woodcuts at Wittenborn Gallery, New York Represented SA Touring exhibition, South and North America Painting and Sculpture, National Arts Club, New York Represented South Africa at Sao Paulo Biennale Represented on The National Arts Club International Exhibition of painting and sculpture, New York |
| 1960 |
Represented South Africa at Ljubljana, Jugoslavia International graphic exhibition Awarded cover prize for catalogue of Quadrennial Exhibition of South African art Exhibition of incised woodblock paintings at the Egon Guenther Gallery, Johannesburg |
| 1961 |
Large mural, the Apocalypse, in Our Lady of the Rosary Roman Catholic Church Motsethabong, Welkom, Orange Free State Represented South Africa at Sao Paulo Biennale Made Stations of the Cross for Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, Rivonia, Sandton Three works chosen for exhibition of graphic art in Munich, Germany |
| 1962 |
Guest Artist of the year at the Transvaal Academy. Exhibition of Rock Faces, Egon Guenther Gallery, Johannesburg Designed tapestry St. Anne, woven by Marguerite Stephens, and carved the Stations of the Cross for St. Anne’s Angilican Church, Piggs Peak, Swaziland |
| 1963 |
Appointed President of South African Council of Artists in succession to Walter Battiss Principal witness against the State at the Harold Ruben Blasphemy trial Represented South Africa at International Conference of Plastic Arts at UNESCO, New York Invited by Johnson Foundation to tour and lecture in the United States of America Became founder member of the 'Amadlozi' Group consisting of Eduardo Villa, Sydney Kumalo, Cecily Sash and Guiseppo Cattaneo. Exhibition tour of Rome, Florence, Venice and Milan at the Galleri Numero Whirlwinds graffiti mural for Technical High School, Gardens, Pretoria |
| 1964 |
Commissioned to design tapestry for Swaziland Iron Ore Development Company for Japanese ore-carrying ship, woven by Marguerite Stephens Woodblock commissioned by the Anglo-American Corporation for its boardroom in New York |
| 1965 |
Awarded Chamber of Mines Gold Medal on 12th Transvaal Academy for Icon, a 2-metre high incised painting Carried out major mural, “The Redemption of Man” (25m x 4m) for St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, Kroonstad Appointed Head of Damelin College of Art. First one-man exhibition at the Grosvenor Gallery, London Participated in “South African Artists” exhibition at the Grosvenor Gallery, London |
| 1966 |
Designed Republic Festival Commemorative stamp series Carried out major mural “The People”, in Western Bank, African Life Centre, Johannesburg Joint exhibition with Sydney Kumalo, Grosvenor Gallery, London Together with Eleanor Esmonde-White won competition to design tapestries, “Diamonds and Gold”, for the Ernest Openheimer theatre in Welkom, Orange Free State. The tapestries were woven in Aubusson, France and together with the French contemporary tapestries were shown at the Johannesburg Art Gallery before installation in the theatre. Represented South Africa at the Venice Biennale |
| 1967 |
Designed 15c Republic of South Africa postage stamp depicting South African mining industry Represented South Africa at the Sao Paulo Biennale Participated in international exhibition at the Grosvenor Gallery, London Carved and painted tryptich wood panels for Roman Catholic mission church at Viljoenskroon, Orange Free State Exhibition of drawings and serigraphs at NSA Gallery, Durban Designed tapestry and carved kist in entrance foyer of President Hotel Johannesburg |
| 1968 |
Awarded SA Breweries gold medal for art. Exhibition at South African Association of arts Gallery, Pretoria Represented South Africa in Lisbon at the Gulbenkian Foundation Represented South Africa at the Venice Biennale |
| 1969 |
Work reproduced under the category “World Painting” in Encyclopaedia Britannica Invited to International Graphic Art Exhibition Carpi, Italy Executed sgraffito mural, “The Citizens”, for Hyde Park Shopping Centre, Sandton Designed poster for Taubie Kushlik’s musical production 'Cabaret'. 600 autographed copies auctioned for charity |
| 1970 |
Designed tapestry for Central Methodist Church, Durban, woven by Marguerite Stephens Exhibition at University of Stellenbosch Art Gallery Commissioned to make mural of incised paintings for Civitas, Pretoria |
| 1971 |
Won Ciba Geigy mural competition for Ciba Geigy headquarters in Isando Kempton Park Participated in touring exhibition to Belgium, the Netherlands and West Germany, organised by South African Association of Arts under auspices of Department of National Education Designed “Totem” for Oxford Shopping Centre, East London Two woodcuts accepted for International Exhibition of Contemporary Xilography at Museo Espagnol de Arte Contemporanea, Madrid Represented South Africa at Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil Invited to International exhibition Xilografia Contemporanea Bologna, Italy - Galeria Chalet Della Rose Represented South Africa in Madrid, Spain and touring exhibition in Holland and West Germany Exhibition of “Icons” at Totem-Meneghelli Gallery, Johannesburg |
| 1972 |
Retrospective exhibition at Pretoria Art Museum where 209 works were exhibited Made kite for auction in the USA in aid of childrens’ charities Illustrated book of poems “Tales” by Sinclair Beiles Awaded Gold Medal at Terza Biennale Internationale della Grafica d’Arte, Florence, for woodcut, “The Dancer” Made and donated an incised painting “The Annuciation”, to St. Ursula’s Convent, Krugersdorp, Transvaal Exhibition at William Humphrey’s Art Gallery, Kimberley Exhibited at National Museum, Bloemfontein “Mother and Child” panel for “The Star” Christmas Feature. Panel auctioned in aid of TEACH. |
| 1973 |
Created the “Assasination of Shaka” portfolio of 43 original three-colour woodcuts with Stephen Gray’s poetry Invited to International Contemporary Woodcut and Engraving Exhibition at the Academy, Ravenna, Italy |
| 1974 |
Represented South Africa at the National Art Museum in Athens, Greece Produced the “White Monday Disaster” (Wolraad Woltemade) portfolio with Stephen Gray Presentation of “The Presentation of Shaka” portfolio to King Goodwill Zwelithini at Ulundi, Kwazulu Exhibition of “The Assasination of Shaka” at Royal Belgian Congo Museum, Tervuren, Belgium Exhibition of “The Assasination of Shaka” at the Kunsthistoriches Museum, Vienna Made a three-colour woodcut for the Nobel Prize portfolio in honour of South African Nobel Prize winner Albert Luthuli. The work, one of 33 by artists from countries which have had Nobel Prize winners, was done at the request of a leading Swedish art gallery. Subsequently this was published in G. Braehammer & K. Garner Moderne Maestare, 33 konstnaerer fran 33 laender, Galerie Boerjeson, Malmo, Sweden. |
| 1975 |
Produced Baudelaire’s “Voyage to the Cape” portfolio with Stephen Gray Produced memorial portfolio on the poet Charles Eglington Exhibition of paintings “On a visit to a Battle Site” and the portfolio “The White Monday Disaster” at the Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg Publication by McGraw-Hill of the book “Assassination of Shaka” Visited Belgium as a guest of Belgian Government |
| 1976 |
Awarded Medal of Honour for painting by the Suid Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns Presented with set of commemorative medallions - 1820 Settlers National Monument Foundation for contribution to art in South Africa Exhibition of wood panels and ten landscapes, a portfolio of original woodcuts with poetry by Stephen Gray at Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg Participated in Decorated Bone Exhibition (elephant, giraffe, whale) at the Rand Afrikaans University with Artists Guiseppe Cattaneo, Trevor Coleman, Aileen Lipkin and Lucky Sibiya Participated in South African Graphic Art Exhibition, S A Consulate General, Tel-Aviv Made “Icon-Madonna” for the Lady Chapel of St. Boniface Anglican Church (Herbert Baker) 133 Meyer Street, Germiston Made engraved mural at the Frik Scott Library, University of the Orange Free State, Bloemfontein |
| 1977 |
Exhibition of panels, totems, woodcuts, drawings and jewellery, Art Gallery of the University of Stellenbosch Exhibition of sculpture and a series of paintings on “The Epic of Gilgamesh” at the Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg Created poster for the 32nd Jaycees International World Congress Wood panel on “The Epic of Gilgamesh” for the KWV at Laborie, Paarl, Cape |
| 1978 |
Relocated from Johannesburg to Cape Town First public showing in South Africa of the portfolio “Homage aux Prix Nobel” at the Grahamstown Festival |
| 1979 |
Participated in South African Printmakers - works from the South African National Gallery - exhibited in Cape Town and Grahamstown (Monument Building) and the Worcester Museum Exhibition of “Man’s Gold” with poetry by Stephen Gray (28 woodcuts) in the National Museum, Bloemfontein Architectural decoration comprising incised panels, woodcuts, two sgraffito murals and prints for Holiday Inn, Ulundi, Kwazulu |
| 1980 |
Tapestries at South African National Gallery Tapestry Exhibition, Cape Town Participated in Cape Artists exhibition at Museum Art Hall, Bloemfontein Wood engravings, wood panel and “Man’s Gold”, Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg Designed poster for the Monument Festival of the Arts, Grahamstown Participated in South African and International Tapestries and Wall Hangings Exhibition, Johannesburg Art Gallery “Man’s Gold” exhibition at the University of the Witwatersrand, Friends of the University Art Gallery Logo designed for the National English Literary Museum and Documentation Centre, Grahamstown |
| 1981 |
First Cape Town one-man exhibition “Passage through an Alien Land”, at Wolpe Gallery, Cape Town External examiner for Michaelis School of Art, University of Cape Town Taught painting, drawing, print-making and sculpture in Nyanga and District 6, Cape Town |
| 1982 |
Commissioned to make 12 landscape paintings The Cape Winelands for KWV calendar Designed tapestry for Sandton Holiday Inn, Sandton, Johannesburg Exhibition of hand-coloured woodcuts and wood engravings at Hugo Naude House, Worcester Invited to stay in Jerusalem at the Mishkenot Sha’Ananmin by the Jerusalem Foundation |
| 1983 |
Exhibition “Judean Walls”, Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg “Stations of the Cross” for St. Mary’s Anglican Catherdal, Johannesburg Exhibition Ernst de Jong Gallery, Pretoria |
| 1984 |
One of 12 artists commissioned to design work entitled “Flight” for South African Airways 50th anniversary calendar Mural executed for St. Charles Lwanga Roman Catholic Church, Mbekweni, Paarl, Cape Printed wood engravings from original Charles Bell blocks to the Bell Heritage Trust Selected retrospective exhibition at UCT Irma Stern Museum, Cape Town Tapestry designed for Portland Cement, woven by Marguerite Stephens |
| 1985 |
Johannesburg and New York ehibitions with Eduardo Villa, Ezrom Legae and Sydney Kumalo Participated in BMW exhibition exhibition “Tributaries” at the Johannesburg Market Gallery and in Germany Executed work “Homage to Reading and Writing” for Kimberley Public Library Designed poster for Grahamstown Festival and National Schools’ Festival |
| 1986 |
Completed 1820 Settlers’ panels (commenced in 1984). Installed in the Foutain Foyer of the Monument building, Grahamstown Joint exhibition with John Skotnes at the Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg |
| 1987 |
Exhibition of drawings at the South African Association of Arts, Cape Town Three paintings commissioned by Amstel Lager Joint exhibition with John Skotnes at the Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg |
| 1988 |
Sgraffito mural, “The Story of Tobit” for the Roman Catholic Church of St. Raphael in Khayelitsha, Cape Town Exhibition at the South African Association of the Arts, Cape Town, including woodcuts and engravings illustrating the narrative poem “Pilgrimage to Dias Cross” by Guy Butler |
| 1989 |
Joint exhibition with John and Pippa Skotnes at the Kunstkabinett Gallery, Windhoek, Namibia Cecil Skotnes and Eduardo Villa exhibition at Pretoria Art Museum to celebrate 25th anniversary of the museum |
| 1991 | Executed mural “Figures in a Metaphysical Landscape” for Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town |
| 1992 |
Exhibition of “Landscape Paintings” at the Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg Exhibition “Landscape Paintings The Cape Winelands” at University of Stellenbosch Museum Incised and painted panels for St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, Tafelsig, Mitchell’s Plain |
| 1993 |
Exhibition “Still Life and Ancestry”, Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg Two month’s stay at Cite Internationale des Arts, Paris Awarded honorary Masters Degree of Fine Art by the University of Cape Town |
| 1994 | Exhibition at the South African Association of Arts, Cape Town |
| 1996 |
Awarded Honorary Masters Degree of Fine Art, Rhodes University, Grahamstown Awarded Honorary Doctorate Degree of Fine Art, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg Retrospective exhibition at the South African National Gallery, Cape Town to celebrate artist’s 70th birthday. Exhibition toured major art centres throughout the country |
| 1998 | Solo show at The Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg. “RAVINE WALLS” |
| 1999 | “Artery”, collaborated show with Lipschitz Gallery, Cape Town and the Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg. |
| 2001 | “RESONANCE” , solo exhibition at The Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg. |
| 2002 | Group exhibition with Harold Rubin at The Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg |
| 2006 | Solo exhibition 'Contemplation', at The Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg |