Grady Zeeman

Zeeman’s fondest memories as a child was when her dad, Max Tomlinson taught her how to draw vintage cars, engines and aeroplanes. These lessons taught her the value of perspective and the mechanics behind what she sees. After she finished school, she applied to study Fashion Design at the Cape Technicon. She was accepted even though she had no Art training at school level. After her 3 years at College, she worked as a Designer in a Clothing factory in Cape Town.

In 1991 she married a farmer from her hometown and had 2 children. She continued selling drawings as an extra income and took up oil painting. However, between raising her children and assisting on the farm, her art took a backseat. It was only in 2005 that she started painting again. With the assistance of 2 of her friends, she did the roof of a local restaurant in an African theme. They were allowed a small exhibition space there as well. 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 the Amsterdam Art Fair 2019.

During 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’s based both in Swellendam and Cape Town, enjoying the best both worlds have to offer.

Qualifications:

National Diploma Clothing Design – Cape Technicon – 1986-1988

Diploma in Art Appreciation – The Art Institute – 2015

Certificate in Navigating Today’s Art World: From Studios to Art Fairs – Sotheby’s Institute of Art – 2018

Art Gallery Management and Exhibition Design – Tina Ziegler – 2020

Certificate in Architectural Imagination – Harvard X – 2021

How do we talk about art?, Dagmara Genda – Berlin Art Institute – 2021

Certificate in Jewelry Fashion – Art for Introvert – 2021

Certificate in History of Fashion Houses – Art for Introvert – 2021.

Certificate in History of Fashion – Art for Introvert – 2021