Paul Sibisi

b. 1948, Umkhumbane, Durban.
A former student at Rorke’s Drift, long-serving art teacher and seasoned political and cultural activist, Paul Sibisi has been an influential figure in Durban’s art scene for decades. His paintings and prints provide cutting commentary on social injustice, with an emphasis on the affirmation of dignity of ordinary people. His aesthetic is both expressive and graphic, realist and poetic.

Gavin Younge, Art of the South African Townships, (Thames & Hudson London, 1988 ), 18-25, 72-75

Art of the South African Townships - Gavin Younge

 

E.J De Jager, Images of Man: Contemporary SA Black Art & Artists, (Ciskei: Fort Hare University Press in association with Fort Hare Foundation, 1992 ), 26-33

Images of Man - pg 26 - 33

 

Hayden Proud, ReVisions: Expanding the Narrative of South African Art, (UNISA Press Pretoria, 2006), 250-251

Revisions, Paul Sibisi - pg 250, 251

 

Education and Training

1987: Art Education and Graphic Techniques, Fircraft College, Birmingham.
1973 - 74: ELC Art and Craft Centre, Rorke’s Drift, KwaZulu-Natal.
1968: Ndaleni Art School, KwaZulu-Natal.

Solo Exhibitions (South Africa)

2003: Revisiting Myself, African Art Centre, Durban.
1981: Exhibition, African Art Centre, Durban.
1973: Exhibition, Bojo Gallery, Durban.

Solo Exhibitions (International)

1987: My People are Our People, Anderson O'Day Gallery, London.

Group Exhibitions (South Africa)

2016: Beyond Binaries, Durban Art Gallery and KZNSA Gallery, Durban.
2006: ReVisions, Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town.
2002: Abelumbi: Untold tales of magic, Durban Art Gallery, Durban.
1990 - 19991: Art from South Africa South African National Gallery, Cape Town.
1989: Five Friends (Paul Sibisi, Mpolokeng Ramphomane, Sifiso kaMkame, Gordon Gabashane and Thami Jali), fka Natal Society of Arts (NSA), Durban.
1987: Exhibition, Paul Mikula and Associates, Durban.
1986: Contemporary African Art: Selected works from the Pelmama Permanent Art Collection, Gallery 21, Johannesburg.
1985: Tributaries, Africana Museum in Progress, Johannesburg.
1984: Weddings — members exhibition, fka Natal Society of Arts (NSA), Durban.
1984: African Arts Festival, University of Zululand, Kwadlangezwa.
1983: African Arts Festival University of Zululand, Kwadlangezwa.
1982: African Arts Festival University of Zululand, Kwadlangezwa.
1982: My environment — members exhibition, fka Natal Society of Arts (NSA), Durban.
1981: Members exhibition, fka Natal Society of Arts (NSA), Durban.
1981: Exhibition of Black Art as Represented in the Campbell Collections of the University of Natal, Durban.
1981: African Arts Festival, University of Zululand, Kwadlangezwa.
1981: Haenggi Foundation National Art Competition Exhibition, Gallery 21, Johannesburg.
1980: African Arts Festival University of Zululand, Kwadlangezwa.
1980: Members exhibition, fka Natal Society of Arts (NSA), Durban.
1976: Urban African Art, Norman Dunn Gallery, Hilton.
1974: Annual Exhibition, University of Fort Hare, Alice.
1974: Exhibition (with Vuminkosi Zulu), fka Natal Society of Arts (NSA), Durban.
1973: Art SA Today, Durban Art Museum, Durban.
1973: Black Expo, African Art Centre, Durban.
1970: Annual Exhibition, University of Fort Hare.
1968: Exhibition, Metropolitan Church Hall, Pietermaritzburg.

Group Exhibitions (International)

1990 - 19991: Art from South Africa, Museum of Modern Art, Oxford.
1982: International Print Biennale, Bradford.
1984: International Print Biennale, Bradford.
1982: Art Toward Social Development: An Exhibition of SA Art, National Museum and Art Gallery, Gaborone.

Awards, Fellowships and Grants

1987: Fellowship, British council.
1984: Grant, Operation Crossroads Africa.
1981: First Prize, Art on the Mole '81 Competition.
1981: Fourth Prize, Haenggi Foundation National Art Competition.
1980: Third Prize, Art on the Mole '80 Competition.
1973: Graphic art award, Black Expo '73.
1973 - 1974: Bursary, South African Institute of Race Relations, (for study at ELC Art and Craft Centre, Rorke’s Drift).
1970: Award, University of Fort Hare Art Exhibition.
1968: Bursary, Department of Bantu Education, (for study at Ndaleni Art School).

Teaching

1975 - 77: Art Teacher, Kwathambo Combined School, Amanzimtoti & Mzuvele High School, KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal.
1969 - 71: Art Teacher, Applebosch Training College, Oswatini, KwaZulu-Natal.

Commissions

1986: Portfolio for Natal Performing Arts Council (NAPAC) - now The Playhouse Company.

Collections

Durban Art Gallery, Durban.
Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town.
Killie Campbell Collection, Durban.
Norval Foundation, Cape Town.
Pelmama Art Collection
University of Fort Hare, Alice.
University of Zululand, Richards Bay.

Brenton Maart, Paul Sibisi and the Art of Protest, (ASAI, 2018).
Kolodi Senong, The visual narratives of Paul Sibisi,(ASAI, 2018).

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