Grady Tomlinson Zeeman

Biography

Grady Zeeman (b South Africa) is a contemporary painter who graduated from Cape Technicon as a Fashion Designer in 1988. After graduation, she worked as a designer in Cape Town, before marriage and moving back to her hometown.

As painting was her first love, she decided to give it more attention. With the assistance of 2 of her friends, she did the roof of a local restaurant with an African theme; where they were allowed a small exhibition space. She earnestly developed her technical skills and broadened her knowledge of Art History.

In 2008, she had her first international art exhibition and then her career developed from there. She has taken part in various exhibitions in the USA, UK, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Zeeman has also taken part in the Florence Biennale 2011, Siel de Paris 2012, London Biennale 2019, and Amsterdam Art Fair 2019. In October 2020, she had her first solo exhibition in Rome, Italy. Her work has been published in numerous books and magazines and she has been a finalist in a couple of art competitions. She has also received several international art prizes. From 2011 to 2017 Zeeman had her own gallery in her hometown in South Africa, where she not only exhibited her own work but represented other South African artists as well.

Since 2018 she is based in both Swellendam and Cape Town, enjoying the best both worlds have to offer.

Artist Statement

As a teenager, Zeeman was surrounded by dynamic women in her family, who inspired her to be aligned with her own power, advocating women’s rights and equality. As she is interested in world history, politics, social matters, as well as emotional energy work, it is only fit for these aspects to be woven into her paintings.

Zeeman’s passion for people - especially women, their struggles, fears, and strive for recognition and equality, are evident in her work. For her, using her art as an instrument to shed the light on current matters, is her Divine purpose.

Zeeman’s preferred medium is oil, though she starts with a thin layer of acrylic. She finds through these techniques, she can create the movement and depth that represent emotions and energy best. Her colour palette is a clear indication of her connection to her understanding of energy fields.

Characterized by melancholy with underlying aspects of spiritualism, Zeeman’s work illustrates sentiments relevant to the times, to which all people can relate.

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