Page 39 - Art First: Karel Nel: Observe

Karel Nel

Born 1955, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

Nel studied Fine Art at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, St Martin’s School of
Art, London and the University of California, Berkeley (Fulbright Placement 1988–89), he now
lives and works in Johannesburg and is Associate Professor at the School of Arts, University of
the Witwatersrand.
Karel Nel is a practicing artist and over many years has been interested in the interface between
art and science. This ongoing investigation has led to his inclusion in the COSMOS project as
artist-in-residence. Nel is also a respected collector of African, Asian and Oceanic art with a
particular interest in currencies. He has expertise in southern African art and advises and consults
with museums in South Africa, New York, London and Paris. He has also been part of curatorial
teams for major international exhibitions on early Zulu, Tsonga and Shangaan art, and has
contributed to numerous publications on this material.
Solo exhibitions
2013 Silent Thresholds – Art First, London
2011 There But Not There – Art First, London
2009 Penelope and the Cosmos (with Willem Boshoff), CIRCA, Johannesburg
2008 The Brilliance of Darkness, Art First, London
2007 Lost light: fugitive images from deep space, Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg
2005 In the Presence of Leaves, Art First, London
2004 Unfathomable Depths, Leslie Sacks Fine Art, Los Angeles
2003 Status of Dust, Art First, London
2002 Status of Dust, Art First, New York
2000 Volcanic Texts, Art First, London
1999 Solo Journeys, Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg
1998 Images of Paradise and Death, Leslie Sacks Fine Art, Los Angeles
1996 View on the Inner House, Art First, London
1995 Isles and the Inner House, Leslie Sacks Fine Art, Los Angeles
1994 Inner Province, Art First, London
1990 Recent Work, Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg
1986 Quiet Lives, Gertrude Posel Gallery, University of Witwatersrand
1983 Recent Drawings and Guest Artist, Johannesburg Art Gallery
1980 Drawings, Olivetti Gallery, Johannesburg
Selected group exhibitions
2015 Delineations, Art First, London
2014 Exact Imagination – 300 Years of Botanically Inspired Art in SouthAfrica, Standard Bank
Gallery, Johannesburg
2012 African Cosmos – Stellar Arts, Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Washington
2011 Life of Bone – Art Meets Science, Origins Centre, Johannesburg
20 Years – Art First, London
Water: The delicate thread of life – Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg

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