GORDON FROUD

Gordon Froud currently serves as the Head of the Department of Visual Arts (DoVA) at the University of Johannesburg and has been an influential figure in both the South African and international art scenes for over three decades. His extensive career encompasses roles as an artist, educator, curator, and gallerist. Froud holds a BA (Fine Arts) Honours from the University of the Witwatersrand and a master’s degree from the University of Johannesburg, where he is a senior lecturer and heads the Sculpture department.


Throughout his career, Froud has participated in hundreds of solo and group exhibitions. He curates numerous group exhibitions that tour across the country and is a prolific exhibitor, participating in over 20 shows annually in locations such as Washington, Boone (North Carolina), The Hague, and Paris. In 2012, he was the inaugural Site-Specific Artist in Residence at Plettenberg Bay and returned in 2013 as a participating artist in the Site-Specific Land Art Biennale. His work was prominently featured in an exhibition of South African sculpture in The Hague in May 2012, where one of his pieces was acquired by the South African Embassy.


Froud’s sculptures have been showcased at Nirox Sculpture Park and Stellenbosch Botanical Gardens as part of the “Heavy Metal” outdoor sculpture exhibitions in 2013 and 2014. His work is held in numerous public and private collections. He curated two significant exhibitions of South African contemporary art that were displayed at Appalachian State University in North Carolina and the Beijing Biennale in 2015, with subsequent showings at the Pretoria Art Museum and the University of Johannesburg Art Gallery.


From April to June 2018, Froud presented a solo exhibition titled “Harmonia: Sacred Geometry, Pattern of Existence” at the Standard Bank Gallery, featuring over 150 new works. This exhibition toured major galleries and museums throughout 2018 and 2019. Froud continues to participate in more than 25 exhibitions each year and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Johannesburg.


Selected Curatorial Projects:


2011 Curated ‘Altered Pieces’ – A tribute to the lyrics of Leonard Cohen – Thompson Gallery, Jhb, Pandora Art House – Pta and Aardklop Festival – Potchefstroom.


2013 Curated “Tom Waits for no Man” – KKNK – Oudtshoorn, UJ Art Gallery – Jhb, Grande Provence Wine Estate – Franschoek, and Stegman gallery – Bloemfontein


2013 Curated Rooftop V – St Lorient Art Gallery – Pretoria


2013 Curated Alice 150 – Celebrating 150 years of Alice in Wonderland – Art lovers – Pta


2014 Curated ‘Cathedra’ – Chair exhibition, Bayliss gallery and University of Johannesburg Art gallery


2014 Twenty: Contemporary SA Art – Appalachian State University North Carolina USA


2015 Co-curated ‘Art in the time of democracy’ Beijing Biennale


2016 Curated “I objekt” – Art It is Gallery, Parkwood, Jhb


2016 Curated the First Inner City Courtyard Sculpture exhibition – No 1 Eloff Street, Jhb


2016 Curated Ceramics Sculpture Exhibition for Ceramics SA – Arts Association, Pta


2016 Co curated Animation Bash for Art Assoc – Pta


2017 Curated Mute Wisdom, Inaugural exhibition – Almenkerk Wine Estate and Sculpture Park, Elgin, Cape Town


2017 Curated Sculpture show for Boschendal Wine Estate, Franschoek


2019 Curated and showed on ‘Terugblik’ – Celebrating 25 years of the KKNK festival artists – Oudtshoorn


2019 Curated Ampersand Foundation 21 year celebration show – University of Jhb Art Gallery


2020 Curated “Pearl” – a tribute show to Janis Joplin – Artbox Gallery – Pta


Selected Exhibitions:


2014


Deconstructing Dogma – University of Jhb Art gallery


Winter Sculpture Fair – Nirox Sculpture Park – Cradle of Humankind


Twenty: Contemporary SA Art – Appalachian State University, Boone North Carolina USA


Performing (Wo)Man – performing gender roles – University of Jhb Art Gallery


Ifalethu – bringing it back – UNISA Art Gallery, Pta.


Play – Nirox Sculpture Park


ABSA Gallery Auction – Jhb


Turbine Art Fair – Artsource stand – Jhb


Capital Future – Fried Contemporary, Pretoria


Cool capital installation at Pretoria Girls High School – Pta


Dignitas Award portfolio – University of Jhb


Karoo Fracking exhibition – Oliewenhuis Art Gallery – Bloemfontein


2015


EQUUS – Cavalli Wine Estate – Somerset West


TWENTY – Pta art Museum / University of Jhb Art Gallery


100 years of ‘Die Burger’ newspaper – Artscape and Die Burger Newspaper – Cape Town


Sculpture on the cliffs – Hermanus


2nd lives – 2-person show with Diane victor – Rossouw Modern – Hermanus – as joint festival artists of FynArts Festival


The Games people play – Botanical gardens of University of the Northwest


Bronze Steel and Stone – Everard Read contemporary Gallery – Johannesburg


Inaugural exhibition – No end Gallery, Linden


Co-curated ‘Art in the time of democracy’ Beijing Biennale


2016


Finalist in PPC Imaginarium for Industrial Design UJ art Gallery


Crossing Borders – A group show for Doctors without Borders – Turbine Hall, Newtown, Jhb


Refiguration – Group exhibition – University of North West Art gallery – Potchefstroom


‘Curiositas’ group show – AGOG Gallery- Maboneng Precinct, Jhb


UJ Seats of Knowledge exhibition and Auction – Kingsway Campus Library University of Johannesburg.


DSW Foundry travelling show of bronze sculpture, University of North West Art gallery, Oliewenhuis Gallery, Bloemfontein, Pretoria Art Museum


Curator/ Creator – Curated Group show by Lucia Boer, ABSA Gallery, Jhb


Nugget Square Group exhibition– SoMA Gallery, Maboneng, Jhb


Woordfees – Stellenbosch Group exhibition


Outdoor Sculpture exhibition – Robertson for Lizamore and Associates


COEXIST – George Bizos exhibition – Saheti School, Bedfordview, Jhb


GNAP International Nomad Nature Art event – Kaapshehoop, Mpumalanga


GNAP International Nomad Nature Art event – AVA Gallery Cape Town


Launch exhibition of Boutique gallery Franschoek Cape town


Launch exhibition at 13th Floor gallery, Jhb


Performing (wo)man – Curated by Derek Zietsman – UJ Art Gallery, Northwest University (Potchefstroom) and Oliewenhuis Art Gallery (Bloemfontein)


2017


‘See Art’ – group exhibition curated by Derek Zietsman, Gallery2 – Jhb


Curated Mute Wisdom, Inaugural exhibition – Almenkerk Wine Estate and Sculpture Park, Elgin, Cape Town


Bibliophile….turning the pages – Absa Gallery, Jhb35 years: A Lizamore perspective – Lizamore and Associates, Jhb


Investec – E waste workshop and exhibition – Durban


Nirox Sculpture Park residency, cradle of humankind.


Cill Railig Artist’s residency, Ballingskellig, Ireland


Group Exhibition of SA artists, Ballingskellig, Ireland


‘Words’ Sculpture Exhibition, Nirox Sculpture Park, Cradle of humankind


Curated Sculpture show for Boschendal Wine Estate, Franschoek


Turbine Art Fair


University of Jhb print portfolio for dignitaries


FAP Print Biennale, Gibbs Business School, Jhb


2018


Selected artist for Creation Wine Estate, Hemel en Aarde, Hermanus for FynArts festival


Solo Show Roussow Modern – Hermanus for FynArts festival


‘Harmonia’ – solo mid-career exhibition, Standard Bank Gallery, Jhb and Cavalli Estate, Somerset West, Cape Town


‘White Light’ – solo show at Fried Contemporary, Pta


Boutique Gallery inaugural show – Brussels, Belgium


Tame times – Absa Art auction for charity, Absa Gallery, Jhb


Paddock III International Postcard exhibition – Blue Room – Jhb


‘Tacit’ Celebration of 20 years of Dionysis Sculpture Foundry – Oliewenhuis Museum as part of the Free State Arts Festival


HIV/AIDS exhibition, Oliewenhuis Museum as part of the Free State Arts Festival


Guerrilla Art – Mural at Javett Art Museum – Pretoria University.


Forward? Forward! Forward… Gallery of the University of Stellenbosch – in celebration of 100 years of the University of Stellenbosch.


Blue Door open studio – group printmaking show Richmond – Jhb


SculpX – Sculpture exhibition – Melrose gallery – Jhb


‘A letter to my younger self’ … Charity Auction show curated by Banele Khoza – ABSA Gallery, Jhb


George Bizos 91st Birthday celebration Solo exhibition – Saheti School Senderwood – Jhb


2019


‘White Light’ – solo show at No end Gallery Linden and Ellis House Troyeville


‘Harmonia’ – solo mid-career exhibition – KKNK National arts festival – Oudtshoorn. (Nominated for a Kanna award for best show at the festival)


‘Blow your sculpture’ – Glass exhibition – Pretoria Art Museum.


‘Harmonia’ – solo mid-career exhibition – Oliewenhuis Art Museum, Bloemfontein and University of the Northwest Gallery – Potchefstroom


21 years of curating the cube – group exhibition – University of Jhb Art Gallery.


‘Samplings’ – Inaugural exhibition of the Jack Ginsberg Center for Book Arts – Wits Art Museum – Jhb


Collecting Contemporary – Lizamore and Associates – KKNK Oudtshoorn and Lizamore and Associates Gallery – Johannesburg


‘Tribute’ – Group exhibition of artists as teachers, curated by Elfriede Dreyer – KKNK National festival – Oudtshoorn


Curated and showed on ‘Terugblik’ – Celebrating 25 years of the KKNK festival artists – Oudtshoorn


Curated Ampersand Foundation 21- year celebration show – University of Johannesburg Art Gallery


2020


The Lockdown collection in aid of the vulnerable artists’ fund – Johannesburg


UJ Pandemic project – University of Johannesburg online – Jhb


Apogee Boutique Hotel launch – Pta


Transhumanism – The Viewing Room Gallery – Pta


Turbine Art Fair – Online exhibition – ‘New World Order’ curated by Johan Thom


Fundraiser Auction for the Project Space – Aspire Auctioneers – Jhb


Fundraiser Auction for Carinus Art Center – Makhanda


Winter online show – Lizamore and Associates – Jhb


Awards, Commissions and Residencies:


1981 Matric Art Prize, Dawnview High School


1988 Merit Award for Sculpture – New signatures Competition


1995 Second Prize – Kempton Park Art Competition


1995 Merit Award – Volkskas Atelier Competition


1996 Third Prize – Kempton Park Art competition


1996 Merit Award – PPC Young Concrete sculptor Competition


2005 ABSA Achievers Gold medal for contribution to the arts and promotion of young artists


2006 Mobile Sculpture award for Dept of Science and Technology CSIR – Pretoria


2008 Baragwanath Taxi Rank commissioned mobile sculpture


2009 Maseru High Commission Mobile Sculpture


2009 Design Indaba – Selected as an Emerging Creative Designer for the Indaba


2009 Sculpture commission – Moses Mabilah Stadium – Durban


2010 Designed Aartvark trophy for innovation for Aardklop Art Festival – Potchefstroom


2011 Designed winners’ trophies for ABSAl’ Atelier


2012 Designed and made 2 life-sized Rhinos for Nedbank Golf challenge – Sun City


2013 Virus Mobile – Medical Military Unit – Pretoria


2013 Field Ambulance – Medical Military Unit – Pretoria


2014 KKNK Festival Artist


2014 Certificate of Excellence – Department of Arts and Culture


2014 Hermanus Art on the Cliff festival artist


2015 FynArts Festival artist Hermanus


2017 Nirox Sculpture Park residency, Cradle of Humankind.


2017 Cill Railig Artist’s residency, Ballingskellig, Ireland


Public Collections:


ABSA Bank Collection


Pretoria Art Museum


UNISA Art Gallery


Sandton Civic Gallery


Carfax Experience JHB


South African Association of Arts


Cite des Arts International – Paris


South African Broadcasting Corporation JHB


Alliance Francaise – Johannesburg


Department of Science and Technology CSIR Pretoria


Mocambique Museum of Art – Maputo.


Willow Ridge High School – Pta


Steel Company – Cape Town


SA High Commission – Maseru


Moses Mabila Stadium – Durban


Li – Bel Restaurant – Pretoria


La Pentola Restaurant – Pretoria


Moses Mabilah Stadium – Durban


Johannesburg Art Gallery – Johannesburg


South African Embassy – The Hague – Holland


Spier Art Collection – Stellenbosch


Standard Bank Collection


Propertuity Collection, Jhb


August House Collection, Jhb


University of Jhb Art Collection


Hollard Collection, Jhb


The Wilds sculpture Park – Jhb


Jack Ginsberg Center for Book Arts (JGCBA) Collection – Wits Art Museum – Jhb.

1963 -
Nationality: South African
Residence: OOVOOKOO
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