COLBERT MASHILE

(b. 1972, Bushbuckridge, South Africa)

Colbert Mashile is a painter and visual artist who has developed a unique iconographical language within South African art, often dealing with the mystical, mythological and archaic elements of traditional African culture and its legacy in today’s world.

Rich in symbolism, Mashile incorporates neoclassical themes in his work and juxtaposes these with deceptively familiar objects from the artist’s everyday life. These are carefully chosen and charged with meaning, giving equal materiality to both western and African aesthetics. In so doing, Mashile creates contemporary vanitas drawings which give voice to his own story, perspective and place in the world.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2018
As We Are, Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2017
Just My Imagination, Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
Truth or Dare, Everard Read Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2016
Man’s Duality (Unearthed), CIRCA Gallery, Johannesburg

2015
Beast of Burden NIROX Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa
S'Ka Motho (Just Like Man) SMAC Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2013
Messages from our Ancestors Art Eye Gallery, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa

2006
Mmawaka Montedi, AVA, Cape Town, South Africa

2004
Tsa Bagale, Gallery On The Square, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2016
Opening Gallery Exhibition, CIRCA Gallery, London, UK
1:54 Art Fair London, presented by CIRCA Gallery, London UK
Cape Town Art Fair, Everard Read Gallery booth, Cape Town, South Africa

2015
FNB Jo-burg Art Fair, Everard Read Gallery Booth, Johannesburg, South Africa

2006
Les arts de la Coexistence? Alliance Francaise, Paris, France
Les arts de la Coexistence? Musee des Arts Derniers, Paris, France
Les arts de la Coexistence? Musee des Arts Derniers,Paris, France
New Painting, KZNSA Gallery, Durban, South Africa
New Painting, Unisa Art Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
DAK' ART, Dakar, Senegal
New Painting, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2005
Brett Kebble Awards Exhibiton
ABSA L'Atelier Competition Exhibition, Absa Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
Johannesburg Sasol New Signatures Competition Exhibition, Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria, South Africa
Les arts de la Coexistence? Migrations Culturelles, Bordeaux , France
Les arts de la Coexistence? Médiathèque, Biarritz, France
Florence Biennale, Florence, Italy

2004
Brett Kebble Awards Exhibiton
ABSA L'Atelier Competition Exhibition, Absa Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
A Decade of Democracy: Witnessing South Africa: 2004 -2005, Boston, Smithsonian, Gibbs Museum, Detroit USA (Traveling Show)
The ID of South African Artists, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
A Decade of Democracy: South African Art 1994 -2004 from the Permanent Collection, South African National Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
Making Waves (A selection of works from the SABC art collection), Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
Negotiated Identities - Black Bodies, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2003
Circumcised/ Circumscribed, Axis Gallery, New York, USA
Show Me Home, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
A New Collection, Gallery On The Square, Sandton, South AfricA

2002
Insider/Outsider, Art on Paper Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, Oudshoorn, South Africa

2001
Museum Africa Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
The Art Space Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

2000
ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
Malangatana in South Africa, Sandton Civic Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
Bill Ainslie Art Gallery, South Africa
Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, Oudshoorn, South Africa

1998 & 1999
Martienssen, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa

1994
JHB Art Foundation, Johannesburg, South Africa

AWARDS

2000
ABSA l'Atelier Merit Prize

1999
Certificate of First Class: Painting IV, Johannesbur Art Foundation

1998
Certificate of Merit: Outstanding Results in Drawing & Design III

1992-1994
Certificate in Art Foundation Course

1989
Tladishi High School Matric

SELECTED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
3M
African Life
BHP Billiton (Gencor) Daniel Erasmus Attorneys Durban Art Gallery
De Beers
E. Oppenheimer & Sons Johannesburg Art Gallery IBM