Jill Trappler
Jill Trappler Jill Trappler

Jill Trappler

Jb. 1957 Benoni, South Africa. Lives in Cape Town.

Jill Trappler has been a consistent exponent of non-representational art since the 1980s, as an artist and teacher. A stalwart of the Thupelo Project and Greatmore Artists Studios, Jill Trappler has been an influential presence in the South African art world and the Triangle Network. Jill established the Philani weaving project and the Intle cooperative project in Site B and Philippi, Cape Town. 

Art Education

1975- 1979: Johannesburg Art Foundation, Johannesburg.
1975- 1978: Bachelor of Arts, UNISA, South Africa.

Workshops

2020: Canvas Workshop Residency with Jill Trappler, Lionel Davis and Garth Erasmus, Zeitz MOCAA, Cape Town.
2015: Triangle Workshop, New York.
1997-2014: Thupelo, various regional and local workshops.
1996: Thupelo, Johannesburg [participant].
1981-84: Community Arts Project (CAP), Cape Town.

Solo Exhibitions

2019: Reverberations, Association for Visual Arts, Cape Town.
2019: Stoep, Gallery South, Muizenberg.
2016: Cape Town Art Fair, Seippel Gallery, Cape Town.
2016: That Art Fair, Cape Town.
2016: Gallery Mojo, Dubai.
2016: Kim Sack Gallery, Johannesburg.
2016: Association for Visual Arts, Cape Town.
2016: Irma Stern Gallery, Cape Town.
2015: The Association for Visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town.
2015: Canteen Gallery, Arts on Main, Johannesburg.
2012: Knysna Fine Arts Gallery, Knysna, Western Cape.
2010: Casa Labia Gallery, Muizenberg.
2009: Irma Stern Gallery, Cape Town.
2008: The Association for Visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town.
2008: Joe's Choice, Association for Visual Arts, Cape Town.
2007: Bag Factory gallery, Johannesburg.
2007: Studio exhibition, Orange Street Studios, Cape Town.
2006: The Association for Visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town.
2006: Kwa-Zulu Natal Association of Arts gallery, Durban.
2003: Bellville Art, Cape Town.
2003: The Association for Visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town.
2002: Bag Factory, Johannesburg.
2001: The Association for Visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town.
2000: Tatham Gallery, Pietermaritzburg, KZN.
1999: The Association for Visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town.
1997: The Association for Visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town.
1995: Prime Art Gallery, Cape Town.
1995: The Association for Visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town.
1990: Gallery International, Cape Town.
1990: The Association for Visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town.

Group Exhibitions (Local)

2019: Nel gallery, Cape Town.
2018: The Association for Visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town.
2018: Greatmore Street Gallery, Cape Town.
2018: Africa Nova.
2018: Artvark.
2017: TAG: Celebrating Greatmore and Thupelo.
2016: Cape Town Art Fair.
2016: Bag Factory, Johannesburg.
2016: Turbine art fair, Johannesburg.
2016: The Association for Visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town.
2015: Artvark gallery, Cape Town.
2015: An Awareness of trees, Art Sauce, Cape Town.
2015: Thupelo workshop exhibitions.
2014: Casa Labia Gallery, Cape Town.
2013: Imibala Gallery, Somerset West, Western Cape.
2013: Cape Town Art Fair, Cape Town.
2013: Johannesburg Art Fair, Seippel Gallery, Johannesburg.
2012: Cape Town, Casa Labia Gallery.
2012: Vulnerable Landscape, Prince Albert Festival, Western Cape.
2012: Johannesburg Art Fair, Seippel Gallery.
2011: Johannesburg Art Fair, Seippel Gallery.
2010: Divisions: Aspects of South African Art 1948 – 2010, SMAC, Stellenbosch.
2010: Waters/Vasia, Cape Town; Durban Art space Gallery; Bag Factory.
2010: End Conscription Campaign, Stellenbosch, Spier Gallery.
2010: These four walls, Cape Town.
2010: Greatmore Street Gallery, Cape Town.
2008: Abstract South African Art from the Isolation Years: Part 3, SMAC, Stellenbosch.
2008: Seippel Gallery, Johannesburg.
2007: Thupelo workshop exhibitions.
2005: Thupelo workshop exhibitions.
2004: Strangers,Cape Town.
2004: Time, Memory, Desire, Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg.
2002: The Mythic Image, ART B, Cape Town.
2001: Brain storm, The Association for Visual Arts, Cape Town.
2001: 3/3, The Association for Visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town.
2001: Spirit of the place, The Association for Visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town.
1996: Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town.
1991: Newtown Gallery, Johannesburg.
1990: Thupelo workshop exhibitions.
1988: FUBA Gallery, Newtown, Johannesburg.

Group Exhibitions (International)

2015: Salem, New York.
2011: Waters/Vasia, Finland.
2009: Lessedra Contemporary Art Projects, Bulgaria.
2009: 7th British International Mini Print exhibition, England.
2008: Lessedra Contemporary Art Projects, Bulgaria.
2008: Busan Biennale, Korea.
2007: Lessedra Contemporary Art Projects, Bulgaria.
2004: Strangers, New Zealand.
2004: Strangers, Canada.
2002: Spirit of the place, Wales.
1999: Workshop exhibition, Kampala.
1998: Munich Book Fair, Munich.

Teaching and Lecturing

2015: Summer School, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
2009: ArtSauce Studios.
2014: Summer School, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
2013: Part-time lecturer Michaelis Art School, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
2012: Summer School, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
2011: Philani employment project.
2010: Drawing project, Ruth Prowse School of Art, Cape Town.
2010: Summer School, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
2009: Summer School, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
2008: Orange street open studios, Cape Town.
2006: Occupational Therapy Department, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town.
2003: Orange street open studios, Cape Town.
2005: Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town.
2000 to 2004: Summer School, University of Cape Town, Cape Town.
2000: Zurich Workshop for Peace movement, Zurich.
2000: Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town.
1998: Tatham Gallery Workshop for local artists, Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal.
1981 to 1984: Private studio and Community Art Project, Cape Town.
1977-1976: The Federated Union for Black artists.
1977-1976: Johannesburg Art Foundation, Johannesburg.
1977-1976: Johannesburg School for Autism, Johannesburg.
1977- 1976: Johannesburg, Newtown Indian primary school.

Coordinator

2015: Thupelo Visual Art Workshop Exhibition Auction, Cape Town.
2015: An Awareness of Trees, Art Sauce, Cape Town.
2014-2015: Thupelo Art Projects, Cape Town.
2010-2012: Group Exhibition, the Spanish Ambassadors’ Residence, Cape Town.
2007: Triangle Africa Arts Trust conference, Cape Town.
1998: Trans figurative, Association for Visual Arts, Cape Town.
1995: Launch, Greatmore street Studios project, Cape Town.
1986: Thupelo International Art Workshop Project, Cape Town.
1980: Co-founder, Thupelo Cape Town workshops, Cape Town.

Consultancy

2015-2016: The Assembly, a Thupelo initiative for the Triangle network in Cape Town.
2014-2015: Re looking, Echo shelter project, Cape Town.
2010: Philani employment project, Cape Town.
2009-2010: Echo shelter project. Cape Town.
2009: Coral, crocheting project.
2009: Real stories gallery website; HIV in the SADAC region.
1997: Switzerland for Pro Helvetia; studio exchange programs.
1991: Cape Town Exhibition coordinator, Valkenburg hospital at UCT.

Research

2007: Appointed to attend a donors meeting in Amsterdam, Arts Collaboratory.
2007: Research and interviews for book about Bill Ainslie.
2006: Documentary video on GMS and Thupelo.
2005: Research and interviews for book about Bill Ainslie.

Studio Employment

2008: Philani nutrition clinic, Greatmore Street Studios, Cape Town.
1998: Philani nutrition clinic, Greatmore Street Studios, Cape Town.
1996: Facilitator, De Lorentz Clinic, Cape Town.
1995: Facilitator, De Lorentz Clinic, Cape Town.
1995: Established art studios at Valkenburg hospital, Cape Town.
1987: Printmaking Employment project, Crossroads, Cape Town.
1981: Hannes Hares, Weaving Studio, Cape Town.
1981: Philani Nutrition Clinic, Crossroads and Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
1980: Established the Intle weaving co-operative, Crossroads, Cape Town.
1980: Facilitator, The Care Village, London.
1976: Professional weaver for Peter Solaris and Helen de Lieu.
1975: Professional weaver for Peter Solaris and Helen de Lieu.
1978: Occupational Therapy, Baragwanath hospital, Soweto.
1977: Occupational Therapy, Baragwanath hospital, Soweto.
1976: Occupational Therapy, Baragwanath hospital, Soweto..

Committees

2007-2014: Board member, Bag Factory Studios, Johannesburg.
2009: Chair, Africa region Commonwealth Foundation awards.
2007: Selection panel, Commonwealth foundation awards.
2002: Board Member, the National Arts Council.
1996-2009: Trustee and founder member, Greatmore Street Studios, Cape Town.
1996- 2007: Association for Visual Arts (AVA), Cape Town.
1988-on going: Coordinator, the Thupelo workshops, Cape Town.

Collections

South African National Gallery (SANG)
Vodacom
SABC
Investec
Nandos
University of Cape Town
Spier Foundation
Creative blocks

Publications

2014: Polly Savage, Robert Loder, John Picton and Anthony Caro (eds.), Making art in Africa 1960–2010, Lund Humphries, London.

Links

https://www.jilltrappler.co.za

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