Ben MACALA

 

1938 – 1997

Sculptures in bronze, terracotta or stone

 


 

The sculptor Ben Macala in 1989 with “Woman Praying” and “Leaning Head” (img © Northcliff Melville Times 22nd Aug 1989)

Ben Macala 1989

with “Woman Praying” and “Leaning Head”

 


 

A brief C.V.

 

Benjamin Mzimkulu MACALA was born in Bloemfontein in 1938; he died in 1997.

To view his c.v. as at 1981, please click on this link!

 


 

Note

 

This webpage presents only a selection of Ben Macala’s sculptures, at the beginning of his career, his best period.

In early 1965 Maj. Aubrey Fielding from the Adler Fielding Galleries in Johannesburg suggested to Ben Macala who had brought in some of his drawings that he should try his hands at modeling. Thus, the first bronzes were cast and "The bull" was included in a show at the Piccadilly Gallery, London, in July 1965 (cat.36)!

 


 

Selected Exhibitions of SCULPTURES

 

1965 Piccadilly Gallery, Cork Street, London “African Painters & Sculptors from Johannesburg”  (15th June to 10th July), cat.36

1966 Adler Fielding Galleries, Johannesburg (3 man show:  Barry de Villiers, Ben Macala, Cousin Walaza) (13th September)

1967 Adler Fielding Galleries, Johannesburg “Sculpture SA 1900-1967” cat. 59, 60, 61

1967 Lidchi Art Gallery, Johannesburg (1st solo show of sculptures: terracotta + bronzes) (November)

1968 Lidchi Art Gallery, Johannesburg (Group Show) (3 bronzes + 8 conté drawings) (catalogue)

1969 Lidchi Art Gallery, Johannesburg (2nd solo show: sculptures and drawings)

 


 

Selected Sculptures

 

Selected Public Collections

 

 

SA National Gallery, Cape Town

 

Ben MACALA “Bull” bronze – 13x29x18.8 cm - one bronze in the SA National Gallery, Cape Town (image from ISBN 0-620-13184-5 p56 © JAG)

“Bull” bronze – 13x29x18.8 cm (image from ISBN 0-620-13184-5 p56 © JAG) - SANG ID 69/10

Click on above image for a better view!

 

Ben Macala “Mother and Child” one bronze in the SA National Gallery, Cape Town, collection (img © Micah MacAllen Flickr)

“Mother and Child” bronze - 35.5x30x28.5 cm (screenshot of image © Micah MacAllen Flickr) - SANG ID 69/9

Both bronzes were acquired by the SANG from Lidchi Art Gallery, Johannesburg, on 31st March, 1969

 

 

 

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum (King George VI Art Gallery), Port Elizabeth

 

Ben MACALA “Mother and Child” bronze – 35.5 cm Coll. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum (King George VI Art Gallery), Port Elizabeth

“Mother and Child” bronze – 35.5x30x28.5 cm

Presented by Volkswagen of SA, 1968 – acquired from Leader Gallery, Grahamstown

 

 

University of Fort Hare

 

Ben Macala “Woman in trance” bronze – 18.5 cm (University of Fort Hare Collection)

“Woman in trance” bronze – 18.5 cm

Click on image for a better view!

 

 


 

Selected Corporate Collections

 

South African Reserve Bank Art Collection, Cape Town

Ben MACALA "The Night Watchman", undated – bronze - 26x32x21 cm (Coll. SA Reserve Bank, Cape Town)

"The Night Watchman", undated – bronze - 26x32x21 cm

(Another cast auctioned by Stephan Welz & Co., Johannesburg - 3rd November, 1997 - Lot 477)

 


 

Selected Private Collections

 

Ben MACALA - composite of 24 sculptures in the Holdstock family collection UK and USA

Ben Macala in the Holdstock collections, UK + USA

Please click on this link for more details about these 24 sculptures!

 

Ben Macala  “Woman in bondage”, pre-1968 - bronze - 32.5x34x30 cm - signed

 “Woman in bondage”, pre-1968 - bronze - 32.5x34x30 cm - signed – ex Private Coll. A.B.

This cast on auction at Stephan Welz & Co., Johannesburg, 30th August, 2016 - Lot 466

 

Ben Macala “Mother and Child”  bronze 46x26x30 cm - not signed – close-up - Private Coll A.B.   Ben Macala “Mother and Child”  bronze 46x26x30 cm - not signed – Private Coll A.B.   Ben Macala “Mother and Child”  bronze 46x26x30 cm - not signed – Private Coll A.B.

“Mother and Child” – bronze -  46x26x30 cm - not signed – three views - cast by Renzo Vignali, Pretoria - ex Private Coll A.B.

This cast on auction at Stephan Welz & Co., Johannesburg, 30th August, 2016 - Lot 467

 

Ben Macala “Head of a Young Woman” mid-1960s bronze unsigned (img. Henri Vergon 2008)

“Head of a Young Woman” mid-1960s – bronze – unsigned – Coll. H.V. 2008

 

Ben Macala "Seated figure" - bronze 1/3 - 31 cm - ex Coll. 34 Long Gallery, Cape Town

"Seated figure" - bronze 1/3 - 31 cm - ex Coll. 34 Long Gallery, Cape Town

 


 

Selected Sculptures sold on auction

 

Ben Macala “Figure Study”, clay, signed – 24.5 cm – sold by Russel Kaplan Auctioneers, Johannesburg – June 2015 Lot P121

“Figure Study”, clay, signed – 24.5 cm – sold by Russell Kaplan Auctioneers, Johannesburg – June 2015 – Lot P121

 

Ben Macala “Seated figure” bronze – 19x19x17 cm – sold by Strauss & Co., Johannesburg – 1st November, 2010 – Lot 109

“Seated figure” bronze – 19x19x17 cm – sold by Strauss & Co., Johannesburg – 1st November, 2010 – Lot 109

 

Ben Macala "Woman in Profile", carved stone, signed - 50x50 cm - sold by Stephan Welz & Co., Johannesburg - 30th July, 2007 - Lot 434

"Woman in Profile", carved stone, signed - 50x50 cm - sold by Stephan Welz & Co., Johannesburg - 30th July, 2007 - Lot 434

 


 

Selected Publications + Articles relating to his sculptures

 

The Star, Johannesburg – 14th September, 1966 (“Mother and Child” illustrated)

ARTLOOK 12 Vol 1 No XII November, 1967 – p. 2, ill

ARTLOOK 32 July, 1969 – p. 7, ill

"The Neglected Tradition - Towards a New History of SA Art (1930-1988)" - Johannesburg Art Gallery - 1988/1989 (Steven Sack) – ill pp 55/6, cat 51+52 – ISBN0-620-13184-5

Northcliff & Melville Times, Johannesburg – 22nd August, 1989, ill above ©

“Images of Metal” (Rankin) (Witwatersrand University Press), 1994 – ill p.31 fig.12 – ISBN 1-86814-257-4

 

Ben MACALA portrait (img GemsofAfrica)

Ben Macala at his studio

 

 “Images of Man - Contemporary South African Black Art and Artists” (E.J. de Jager) (Fort Hare University Press), 1992, listed p. 30 cat. 142 - ISBN 1-86810-015-4

“Figure – Ground: reflections on the South African Reserve Bank“ ( Rory Bester ) (SA Reserve Bank,  Pretoria), 2007 ill. p. 211 - ISBN 0-9585044-3-1 

 

 


Uploaded 11th August, 2016

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