Thelma Juliana WISE
1921 - 2003
Paintings and Etchings
Thelma WISE in 1964
Brief C.V.
Born 1921 in Pretoria, matriculated at the Pretoria High School for Girls in 1937, studied 1938-1941 at the Witwatersrand Technical College, Johannesburg, under Eric Byrd and Mary Davis, gaining a National Art Teacher's Certificate with 3 distinctions. Further studies with Sidney Goldblatt 1958-1959. During 1961, attended a 3-month graphic art techniques course at "Atelier 17" Paris under Stanley William Hayter, then travelled to London, Berne (saw the Paul Klee Collection) and Rome.
During the 70s into March, 1971, Thelma Wise gave lessons to students at Mofolo Park, Soweto, once a week.
From the 1980s until her death her art output was minimal; Thelma Wise passed away on 31st July, 2003.
Thelma was married to Leonard Stephen Wise, FCIS ACWA (d. 2006); they had 2 sons and 2 daughters, 11 grandchildren.
Solo and Group Exhibitions
1959, 1960 and 1961 included in Transvaal Academy Exhibition, Johannesburg
1960 Adler Fielding Galleries, Johannesburg ("Artists of Fame & Promise" 1960), cat. 98, 99 (2 oils)
1960 Second Quadriennal of South African Art
1960 Adler Fielding Galleries, Johannesburg ("The Year's Findings") (15th December), cat. 67, 68 (2 oils)
1962 Gallery 101, Johannesburg ("Art and Religion" - The Gallery 101 - U.A.T. 1962 Scholarship") (26th February), cat. 45, cat. 46 (2 etchings)
1963 Gallery 101, Johannesburg ("Arbeid - Work" - The Gallery 101 - U.A.T. 1963 Competition) (March), cat. 24 (1 etching) (awarded "Honorary Mention")
1963 Adler Fielding Galleries, Johannesburg ("Artists of Fame & Promise" 1963), cat. 82 (1 oil)
1964 Gallery 101, Johannesburg (20th April) (solo) - invitation + cat. 27 works
1964 Adler Fielding Galleries, Johannesburg ("Artists of Fame & Promise" 1964) (14th July), cat. 119 (1 graphic)
1966 Republic Festival Exhibition, SA Association of Arts, Pretoria
1966 Memorial University Gallery, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada (October) (solo of graphics)
1971 Gallery 101, Hollard Street, Johannesburg (March)
1972 Gallery 21 Hyde Park Johannesburg ("38 leading painters, sculptors and graphic artists") (11th to 30th November)
A selection of paintings
"Avocadoes", 1960 - oil - cat. 98
A selection of graphics
"Les églises", abt. 1961 - etching
"Insecte", 1961 - etching - A/P II (on auction iGavel Auctions, New York, 2014)
"Le cirque", abt. 1962 - etching
"Medieval Town", 1965 - etching 1/10
"Cross Section" - etching - ill. in ARTLOOK 51 Johannesburg (February, 1971, p. 33)
"African Village" - etching - ed. 4/8 (on auction iGavel Auctions, New York, 2014)
Selected publications
"South African Artists 1900-1962" (Harold Jeppe) (Afrikaanse Pers-Boekhandel), 1963, p. 116
"Art & Artists of South Africa" (Berman) (Balkema), 1983, pp. 515, 516, 525, 545 - ISBN 0 86961 144 5
"The Dictionary of South African Painters and Sculptors" (Ogilvie) (Everard Read), 1988, p. 756 - ISBN 0 620 12663 9
"Printmaking in a transforming South Africa" (Hobbs/Rankin) (David Philip Publ.), 1997, p. 136 - ISBN 0-86486-334-9
Other web references
"Who's Who of Southern Africa", 1980 (ref. to under L.S. Wise)
List of artists who have worked at Atelier 17, Paris (1950-1988)
Other press reviews
Evening Telegram, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, 14th October, 1966, p. 11 (ill.)
The MUN Gazette, St. John's, Newfoundland - The Muse, Vol. 17, No. 04 (October 21, 1966), review
ARTLOOK 7 Johannesburg - June, 1967, p. 12, ill.
ARTLOOK 51 Johannesburg - February, 1971, p. 32 + p. 33, 3 graphics ill.
Rand Daily Mail, Johannesburg - 24th March, 1971 - review by HE Winder
Notes
Should you be able to let us have more references on or images of Thelma WISE's works, please contact us on this link!
updated 28th April, 2015