Findlay uses intense, bold colours and vigorous painting techniques to elevate the decorative and the ordinary into her work. Challenging conventional readings, her work explores issues of transience through irony, sentimentality and embellishment by transforming the ordinary. Yet her paintings are always about the process of painting itself, constantly drawing attention to the paint as a physical matter independent of the subject depicted.

Qualifications

1992 - 1994      Master of Fine Art (Cum Laude) University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg

1988 - 1989      BA Honours (Fine Art) (Cum Laude) University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg

1981                 Higher Diploma in Education University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg

1978 - 1980      Bachelor of Arts Majored in History and Art History University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg

1972                 Matriculated Epworth High School

Employment

2009                 Part time Drawing Lecturer University of Johannesburg, Visual Arts Lecturer, PGCE Course, University of Witwatersrand
Arts Co-ordinator for Women's project, Ekupoleni, Natalspruit Hospital, Katlehong.

2008                 Part time Drawing Lecturer University of Johannesburg and Visual Arts Facilitator for Women and Violence Project, CDP,Johannesburg
Arts and Culture Workshops for Foundation, Intermediate and Senior Phase Teachers

2007                 Drawing lecturer, first and second year, University of Johannesburg. Visual Arts Facilitator for Women and Violence Project, CDP, Johannesburg.

2005 - 2006      Contract Employment at the University of Johannesburg Course Leader of the First and Second Year Drawing Programmes and the Teacher Training course. Involved in Third Year Studio Practice.

2004                 Contract Employment at the Wits School of Arts, University of the Witwatersrand Co-ordinator of the Third Year Fine Arts programme and lecturer in the Visual Literacy Foundation course. Part time lecturer in the Visual Literacy course in the Arts and Culture programme for the A.C.E. teachers organized by the C.D.P. and held at the Johannesburg College of Education. Taught second year drawing at the Wits Technikon.

2002 - 2003      Contract employment at the University of Witwatersrand. Taught Education, Visual Literacy, Painting and Drawing and Design. Involved in supervision of Masters students. Acted as a consultant for the Curriculum Development Project (CDP) and the Wits School of Arts Partnership project.

2001 - 2002      Self employed - involved in Mosaic projects, Art workshops and taught part time lecturing at various institutions.

2000 - 2001      Leave replacement lecturer in the Printmaking and Drawing departments at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.

1993 - 2000      Lecturer at the University of Durban-Westville. Appointed as printmaking lecturer and taught painting, drawing and printmaking and Art theory. Was employed at UDW until the closure of the Arts Drama and Music departments.

1992                 While on study leave from Brettonwood High School (completing my MAFA) was employed as a part time lecturer in the fine Art departments at the Natal Technikon and the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.

1989 - 1993      Employed as the Art teacher at Brettonwood High School, Durban.

1982 - 1988      Employed as the Art teacher at Mansfield High School, Durban. Taught History and Art until the closure of the school in 1988.

1977                 Gave private art classes, Pietermaritzburg

Community Involvement

Extensive involvement with informal community-based art programmes, including:

2007                 Facilitated "Paper Prayers" workshop at Artist Proof studio for teachers.

2004                 Worked with Churchill Madikda at Constitution Hill, organized mural painting project to celebrate Women's Day and the opening of Constitution Hill

2003                 "Azibuye Emasisweni" Cultural and Environment heritage project. Silethukukhanya High School, Khula Village, Dukaduka.
Worked with David Andrew and Joni Brenner - Teacher Training and Community Development workshop at Phutijhaba.

2002                 Co-ordinated and taught painting classes for Velobala group. Administered by the African Art Centre, Durban and held at the Natal Technikon.

2001                 Conducted a training programme for Embo craft with a group of rural, unemployed women in the Shongweni Valley.

1999                 Facilitated a series of workshops for seventeen schools in Kwa Zulu Natal as part of the "Upward Bound" programme, University of Durban Westville.

1998                 Mural Facilitator for murals at new Welfare and Pensions office, Umbumbulu. Designed and painted murals, assisted by students - Niven Anghar, Asiya Swaleh and Geeta Ramparsad. Architect: Jenny Whitehead. Contractors: Allen Brothers.
Crafts Council Fair. Fabric painting techniques - slideshow and workshop, Durban Exhibition Centre.

1996                 Co-ordinated and painted interior and exterior of container to be used as a pre-primary school for street children, Makabongwe School (corner of Brook and Victoria street) Printmaking workshop for African art centre held at Natal Technikon, sponsored by S.I.D.A. Fabric painting workshop - Ladysmith, University of Durban Westville Outreach programme.

1995                 Fabric painting classes for the Saturday art workshop for the African art centre. Winter School fabric painting workshop held at the University of Durban Westville.

1994                 Co-ordinated and taught Saturday school art classes for the African art centre. The classes wee sponsored by the Swedish International Development Aid.

1993                 Mural mosaic at Brettonwood High School with the school pupils Mural painting project at St Lawrence School, Valley of a Thousand Hills. Joint project between university students and school children. Part of the University of Durban-Westville Outreach Programme. Sponsored by the Bartel Arts Trust.

1992                 Art classes in a children's ward at Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg. Decorated the ward at Christmas time. Fabric painting workshop held in Xihoko in the then Northern Transvaal. Tsonga-Shangana women who are members of the Xihoko workshop embroider cloths which are sold to earn a living wage. The possibility of combining embroidery with fabric painting was investigated.

1988                 Co-ordinator of children's art classes held at Natal Technikon under the auspices of the Natal Society of Arts (N.S.A.)

1987                 Children's art classes sponsored by the Durban Arts Association. The children took part in the Life in the Park festival.

1986                 Co-ordinator of art programme for street children. Worked in association with Natal Society of Arts and Community Arts Workshop.

1984 - 1980      Council member of Natal Society of Arts.

1984                 Founder member of the Community Arts Workshop set up in the old station buildings in Durban. Gave Saturday art classes at the Community Arts workshop.

Exhibitions

2009                 Exhibition of large and small paintings matter and treasure and paint at The South African National Arts Festival, Grahamstown.

2008                 TURN AGAIN: Exhibition of paintings and prints held at the Tamasa Gallery, Durban Exhibition of monotypes and paintings FLOATING AND FALLING at David Krut Projects, Johannesburg.

2007                 Exibition of prints LUCKY BEANS AND LACE CURTAIN at Artist Proof Studio, Newtown, Johannesburg.

2006                 "EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY" Exhibition of paintings and prints held at the Substation, University of Witwatersrand and KwaZulu Natal Society of Arts, Durban.
"ALL ABOUT EVERYTHING" Exhibition held at the Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg.

2005                 Exhibition of prints at the David Krut print workshop.
"A BLANKET STORY" Exhibition at 'TOKARA', Stellenbosch, curated by Julia Meintjes.

2002                 "FLOORS AND FLOWERS" Solo exhibition held at the Tamasa Gallery, Durban
Nominated for FNB Vita Awards Prize. Exhibition held at Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg. Work then shown at Potchefstroom Art Festival

2001                 Curated and co-ordinated exhibition "PAINTING, PRINTING, STITCHING - The work of Bronwen Findlay, Daina Mabunda, Faiza Galdhari"
The exhibition was held at the N.S.A Gallery in Durban after which it was shown at the Grahamstown Arts Festival and then at the Standard Bank Gallery in Johannesburg. The Johannesburg show included new work and was renamed "THREADS".

1998                 "BRINGING UP BABY - Artists survey the reproductive body" Exhibition curated by Terry Kurgan.
The exhibition was held at the Castle in Cape Town, at the Grahamstown Standard Bank Arts Festival and at the Wits Art Galleries.
'30 S X 31E'
Four Durban Artists: Bronwen Findlay, Jeremy Wafer, Aidan Walsh, David Haigh. Lipschitz Gallery, Cape Town.
Solo Exhibition. The 1999 South African Women's Arts Festival. Sponsored by the Playhouse Company and Transnet

1997                 Exhibition with Jeremy Wafer at the Natal Society of Arts Gallery, Durban.
Solo exhibition at the Walsh Marais Gallery, Durban.

1996                 Solo exhibition at the Elizabeth Gallery, Durban.

1995                 "TRANSITIONS: Contemporary art from the Republic of South Africa" - A touring exhibition presented by Bath Festivals Trust Contemporary Art programme in association with O.V.A.

1994                 M.A exhibition held at the Jack Heath Gallery, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.

1989                 Solo exhibition at the Elizabeth Gordon Gallery, Durban.

1987                 Exhibition with Aidan Walsh, Gallery International, Cape Town.
Exhibition with Jeremy Wafer, Clive van den Berg, Andries Botha, Bonnie Ntshalinshali and Fee Halstead at the NSA Gallery, Durban.

1986                 Exhibition with Jeremy Wafer and Virginia Mackenny at the NSA Gallery, Durban.
Solo exhibition at Café Geneve, Durban

1985                 Exhibition with Andrew Verster and Clive van den Berg at the Association of Arts, Pretoria.

1983                 Solo exhibition at the Natal Society of Arts, Durban.

Selected Group Exhibitions

2004                 Brett Kebble Art Awards exhibition, Cape Town

2002                 "UNTOLD TALES OF MAGIC:ABELUMBI", Curated by Jill Addleson, Durban Art Gallery.

2001 & 2005      "BREAK THE SILENCE" Artists for Human Rights. HIV/Aids Billboard and Print Portfolio project.

2001                 "SELF" - an exhibition of life-size linocuts, Karoo Festival, Oudtshoorn

2001 - 2001      "THE HOUR GLASS PROJECT" - A print collaboration, The Caversham Press, Natal.
The exhibition held at the Standard Bank festival in Grahamstown, Atlanta, USA, Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg.

1998                 "UTSAV" - An exhibition of artists from India and South Africa, Durban Art Gallery. Exhibition held in honour of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. Exhibition curated by Uma Prakash.
"MUSIC AND IMAGE" - Standard Bank Festival, Grahamstown. A collaboration with the Caversham Press.
"JABULISA: The art of KwaZulu Natal" - Exhibition held in Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Johannesburg.

1995                 "PANORAMAS OF PASSAGE: Changing landscapes of South Africa" - Touring exhibition organized by Meridian International Centre, Washington DC in association with the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
"SIYAWELA: Love, Loss and Liberty" - Africa ‘95 - Curated by Colin Richards and Pitika Ntuli from Wits University.University of the Witwatersrand and Birmingham City Art Museum.

1995                 "OBJECTS OF DESIRE" - The Thompson Gallery, Johannesburg.

1992                 "ART MEETS SCIENCE: Flowers as image" - Grahamstown festival and national travelling exhibition.

1989                 Volkskas Atelier Exhibition, Association of Arts, Pretoria.

1988                 Volkskas Atelier Exhibition, Association of Arts, Pretoria.

1987                 Volkskas Atelier Exhibition, Association of Arts, Pretoria.

1986                 Volkskas Atelier Exhibition, Association of Arts, Pretoria.
"DURBAN ARTISTS" - Elizabeth Gordon Gallery, Durban.
End Conscription Campaign Exhibition, Durban.

1985                 National Paper Works Exhibition, Natal Society of Arts, Durban.

Awards and Nominations

2007                 Helgaard Steyn Award for painting. Presentation held at North-West University

2004                 Merit Award for A PAINTING ABOUT A BEDSPREAD, Brett Kebble Art Awards, Cape Town.

2002                 Nominated for VITA Art Award

Public Collections

Durban Institute of Technology

Durban Art Gallery

Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg

Unisa Collection, Pretoria

Wits Art Galleries, University of Witwatersrand

Natal Provincial Administration

Botany Department, University of Cape Town

ABSA Bank Collection

Engen Collection

Empangeni Art and Culture Museum

Carnegie Art Museum, Newcastle, Natal

Margate Art Museum, Natal

KwaZulu Natal Provincial Administration

Sasol Collection, Johannesburg

M.T.N Collection, Johannesburg

Standard Bank, Johannesburg

First National Bank

Commissions

2001                 Melrose Arch mosaic project with Jane du Rand and Andrew Verster. Partly responsible for designing and applying 400sq m of mosaic to lift shaft, tower block, interior and exterior walls of a building designed by architects from Omm Design Workshop, Durban.

2000                 Designed book cover for "Jurisprudence: A South African Perspective" by Johnson, Pete, duPlessis. Painting - "Seeds and Scales"

1995 - 2000      Designed covers for "Alternation: Journal of the Centre for the Study of Southern African Literature and languages"

1994                 Commissioned to paint flower painting for the Botany department, University of Cape Town

1992                 "Art meets science" - commissioned for the Grahamstown Festival and printed at the Caversham Press.

1991                 Portfolio of prints commissioned by First National Bank, printed at Caversham Press.

1988                 Mural for the Malherbe Library, University of Natal, Durban.

1987                 "Happy birthday Andrew" - Portfolio of prints by different artists commissioned by the Goodman Gallery and printed at Caversham Press.

Other Professional Activities

Judged various Art Competitions

Opened Art Exhibitions

2006                 ARTIST TO ARTIST exchange. Awarded by VISITING ARTS, UK. Collaboration with Joy Gregory.

2005                 Presented a paper "EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY" at University of KwaZulu Natal, Centre of Visual Art, Pietermaritzburg.
International Conference "Dress in Southern Africa"

2004                 Merit award for "A PAINTING ABOUT A BEDSPREAD" Brett Kebble Art Awards exhibition, Cape Town.

2003 - 2007      Appointed as external moderator for third and fourth year students from the Fine Art Department at the Vaal University of Technology.

2006 - 2007      Appointed as external examiner for the Fine Art Department of the University of the Free State.

2005 - 2006      Appointed as moderator at Greenside Design Center, Johannesburg.

2004                 Appointed as external moderator for B-tech students from the School of Art, Design and Architecture at Witwatersrand Technikon.

2002                 Nominee for FNB Vita Art Prize.
Judged Martiensen Exhibition with Jeremy Waferat Johannesburg Art Gallery.
Opened "SURVEY" at Durban Art Gallery - an exhibition of ten years work by Jeremy Wafer.

2001                 Presented a paper at the annual conference of the South African Association of Art and Architectural Historians.

1999                 Artist in Residence, National Arts Festival, Grahamstown

1998                 "NEW GROUND - COMMON GROUND" = Attended conference and took part in print exchange portfolio, Rhodes University, Grahamstown.

1997                 Paper presentation "AFRICAN LANDSCAPE WITH AEROPLANE - Before and After" - Presented at Joseldoff Gallery, University of Hartford, Connecticut, USA.
Panel discussion to coincide with exhibition "Panoramas of Passage - Changing Landscapes of South Africa"

1996                 On the selection panel of the Emma Smith Overseas Art Scholarship, Natal Technikon.

1995                 Paper - "PAINTING AND STITCHING - the work of Bronwen Findlay and Daina Mabunda" - The University of Durban Westville, the Centre for the Study of Southern African Literature and Languages.
Symposium: "TRANSMISSIONS - Contemporary Art from the Republic of South Africa" - Bath, United Kingdom. Presented a paper on the work of Bronwen Findlay and Daina Mabunda.

1992                 Paper - "XIHOKO EMBROIDERY" - presented at conference on Crafts in Education." University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.

1987                 Spent four months at the Cite Internationale des Arts, Paris