(b. 1958 Rustenburg, South Africa)

Guy du Toit uses a wide range of media in his sculptures, including bronze, stone, wood and steel, and draws in pen, ink and charcoal. He has exhibited extensively, both locally and internationally, and has been consistently supported by private and public collectors, institutions, academics and fellow artists. 

Honoured with several awards, he curates and adjudicates exhibitions and lectures at a number of institutions, including Pelmama Academy in Soweto, Pretoria University, Johannesburg and Pretoria Technicons, and the Johannesburg School of Art, Ballet, Drama and Music.  He gives workshops throughout South Africa and has been involved in community projects, seminars and symposia.

The past few years have increasingly been spent on private and public commissions and in working closely with artists and businesses, especially those involved in design, communications, architecture, advertising and entertainment. Guy currently teaches part-time at the University of Pretoria and works full-time from his new home and studio in Swavelpoort.

Guy du Toit’s apparent irreverence can obfuscate the fact that he is undoubtedly one of South Africa’s most accomplished sculptors. “Liberated” (as he says) by the advent of democracy in South Africa from having to concern himself and his art with the notions of identity, he has happily turned his attention to “less provincial” pursuits like reveling in form, concept and media for their own sakes. Du Toit uses the unexpected juxtaposition of bronze casts of universal, everyday found (and made-to-look-found) objects to invite his audience to invent dialogue themselves.

EDUCATION

1982    

Graduated from the University of Pretoria, BA (Fine Art) Degree, with a distinction in sculpture.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2017    

Off the wall; A Group Sculpture Show, Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg

2016    

Hare There and Everywhere, Everard Read, Johannesburg

2015    

Bronze, Steel and Stone, Everard Read, Johannesburg

2014    

Sculpture Summer III, group show at Mount Nelson Hotel, with Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

Southern Guild and Design, Basel Miami, USA

The Orchard Walk, Tokara Wine Estate sculpture garden, South Africa

2013    

Centenary Exhibition, Everard Read, Johannesburg

Possessed, group show, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

After the Rainbow Nation, group show, Nirox Sculpture Park, Gauteng, South Africa

2012    

Small Works, group show at Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

Solo show at Tokara, Cape Town, South Africa

2011   

The Length of a Piece of String, solo show at Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

Surplus to requirements, group exhibition, Slade School of Fine Art, South Africa

Alchemy, group exhibition, Upstairs @ Bamboo, Johannesburg, South Africa

History, group show, Fried Contemporary, Pretoria, South Africa

2010    

View from the South, group show at Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

Twenty,  group show, Nirox Sculpture Park, Gauteng, South Africa

Two Thousand and Ten Reasons to Live in a Small Town, group show, VANSA

2009    

Sex, Power, Money, group show at Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

3, with Wilma Cruise & Gordon Froud, Naude Modern, Pretoria, South Africa

2007    

Little Deaths, three person show, Fried Contemporary, Pretoria, South Africa

Figures in a Landscape, with Johann du Plessis, Gallery at Grande Provence, Franschhoek, South Africa

2004    

Three person exhibition (with Johan Moolman and Ivan du Toit), Gordart, Johannesburg, South Africa

Two person exhibition (with Judith Mason), South African Arts Association, Pretoria.

2003    

Earthworks/Claybodies, (with Deborah Bell, Wilma Cruise, Josephine Ghesa), Pretoria Art Museum, South Africa

2001    

Observations, Group show with Wilma Cruise & Diane Victor, The Open Window,  Pretoria, South Africa

2000    

Strata (an exhibition with Egon Tania), Bamboo, Johannesburg, South Africa

1999    

Objects of Desire. The Open Window Contemporary Art Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa

Conversation, The Open Window Contemporary Art Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa

1988    

Klein Karoo National Art Festival, Oudtshoorn, South Africa

Prestige Exhibition, The Association of the Friends of the Pretoria Art Museum, South Africa

1996    

Opening Exhibition, Open Window Art Academy, Pretoria, South Africa

1995    

Images of Metal, South African Touring Exhibition, South Africa

Space/(Dis)place, Africus Biennial, Electric Workshop, Johannesburg, South Africa

1994    

Contemporary Art from South Africa. Deutsche Aerospace, Munich, Germany

Art Alive 94, Ruddell Theatre, Pretoria, South Africa

Moving Experiences, Everard Read Contemporary, Johannesburg.

Toured Holland and Germany.

Kempton Park/Tembisa Annual Art Competition (Third Prize)

1993    

FNB Vita Art Now, Johannesburg (Overall Winner)

Natural History Museum. Taipei, Republic of China

Solo Exhibition, Everard Read Contemporary, Johannesburg, South Africa

1990    

Volkskas Atelier Competition. (Merit Award)

Sol Plaatjie Sculpture Award Exhibition. Mafikeng, South Africa

1989    

Images of Wood,  Johannesburg Art Gallery, South Africa

AWARDS 

1994    

Kempton Park/Tembisa Annual Art Competition, Third Prize.

1993    

FNB Vita Art Now, Overall Winner.

1990    

Volkskas Atelier, Merit Award.

1989    

Sol Plaatjie Sculpture Award, Sculpture Award.

1988    

Volkskas Atelier, Merit Award.

International Exhibition of Miniature Art, del Bello Gallery, Toronto, Honorary Mention.

1987    

Style Lighting Design Award, Lighting Award.

Hans Merensky Foundation Wood Sculpture Competition, Merit Award.

Corona del Mar Young Artist Award, Sculpture Award.

1986    

Vita Art Now.

1985    

Hans Merensky Foundation Wood Sculpture Competition, Joint winner with Koos den Houten.

Johannesburg Art Museum Centenary Sculpture Competition, Finalist.

1983    

Emil Schweikerdt Bursary for a study tour of Europe.

1982

New Signatures, Sculpture Prize.

Honorary Mention National Fine Arts Students Exhibition, University of the Witwatersrand

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS 

SasolBloemfontein Museum.

Durban Art Gallery.

Namibia Art Museum.

National Gallery, Cape Town.

Pelmama Permanent Art Collection.

Pietersburg Art Gallery.

Port Elizabeth Art Gallery.

Pretoria Art Museum.

Durban Technicon.

Pretoria Technicon.

Pretoria Boys High School.

St. Mary’s Girls School, Johannesburg.

UNISA.

University of the Free State.

University of the Witwatersrand.

University of Natal.

University of Pretoria.

ABSA.

Alexander Forbes.

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

Foundation for the Creative Arts.

Gauteng Provincial Administrator.

Gencor/Billiton.

Human Sciences Research Council.

Mercedes Benz.

Nampower.

SABC.

SANDF.

Sasol Art Collection.

Velocity Films.

Virgin Airlines.

Wits Business School.

Wooltru.

Gauteng Provincial Administration.

Women’s Monument, Union Building.