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CV

Education

2017

Qualification: Masters in Fine Art (cum laude)

Institution: Durban University of Technology

Course: Masters: Fine Art

Topic: An Exploration of Transience in the Work of Selected Paper Artists, in the Context of Process Philosophy

 

Exhibitions

2024

State of the Art Gallery, Cape Town, Paper Tale (Group Exhibition)

A Pick Gallery, Torino, Italy, Paperland (7 Feb-) (Group Exhibition)

Rupert Museum, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, In conversation with their show AbstRact: the hidden synchrony (12 January- April) (Installation)

2023

Shanghai International Paper Art Biennale, Shanghai, China. (1 November- 27 January 2024) (Group, Art Fair)

Art Collaboration Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan, with A Pick Gallery (28-30 October) (Group, Art Fair)

Estampa Contemporary Art Fair, Madrid, Spain, with A Pick Gallery. (19-22 October) (Group, Art Fair)

Lizamore Gallery, Woordfees, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, Borrel (7-15 October) (Group Exhibition)

RMB Latitude Art Fair, Johannesburg, 1+1, with Lizamore Gallery (Group, Art Fair)

(Un)expected Art Fair, Milan, Italy, with A Pick Gallery (Group, Art Fair)

Spier Wine Farm, Stellenbosch, Spier Light Art Exhibition (Group Exhibition)

State of the Art Gallery, Cape Town, Time and Tides: Awaits no man (Group Exhibition)

2022

A Pick Gallery, Torino, Italy, Landscapes of Hidden Words (Group Exhibition)

Origin Art, Johannesburg, Loud Speak (Group Exhibition)

KZNSA Gallery, Durban, Transience (Group Exhibition)

Lizamore, Fairland Gallery, Johannesburg, Underfoot (Solo Exhibition)

State of the Art, Cape Town, Winter Salon (Group Exhibition)

State of the Art Gallery, Cape Town, Abstract*d (Group Exhibition)

THK Gallery, Manor House Boshendal, Norval and Boschendal Collaboration, Flights of Fancy (Group Exhibition)

THK Gallery, Cape Town (Group Exhibition)

State of the Art Gallery, Cape Town, Art week (Group Exhibition)

2021

KZNSA Gallery, Durban, Commune, (Group Exhibition)

State of the Art Gallery, Cape Town, Crease (Solo Exhibition)

 

2020

Turbine Art Fair (online), KZNSA Gallery, Commune (Art Fair)

Turbine Art Fair (online), Mstudio Community, The limitless Mind (Art Fair)

2019

KZNSA Gallery, Durban, Just Listed (Solo Exhibition)

KZNSA Gallery, Durban,  Know this place, (Group Exhibition)

KZNSA Gallery, Durban, Creative Block Project Exhibition, (Group Exhibition)

Phansi Museum, Durban, Be Inspired by Phansi (Group Exhibition)

State of the Art Gallery, Cape Town, The Durban July we make (Group Exhibition)

Mbombela Civic Centre, Mpumalanga, National Innibos Craft Award 2019, Finalist (Competition)

RUST-EN-VREDE Gallery, Cape Town, Birds (Group Exhibition)

KZNSA Gallery, Durban, Umhlaba | Land (members exhibition) (Group Exhibition)

2018

Art.b Gallery, Bellville, Cape Town, #Paper. (Group Exhibition)

SA Gallery, Johannesburg, Absa l'atelier exhibition top 100 (Competition)

ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg, Absa l'atelier exhibition top 100 (Competition)

Bremischen Bürgerschaft, Bremen, Germany. (Small Solo).

State of the Art Gallery, Cape Town, The marks we make (Group Exhibition)

Daville Baillie Gallery, Johannesburg, (Showcase)

KZNSA Park Gallery, Durban, (Showcase)

2017

ArtSpace Durban, Durban, Together apart (Group Exhibition)

ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg, Absa l'atelier exhibition top 100 (Competition)

Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria, Sasol Signatures, Finalist (Competition)

ICC, Durban, Essence Festival, Enchant. Celebrate. Create. Disrupt (Group Exhibition)

2016

ArtSpace Durban, Durban, Once More (Solo Exhibition)

DF Contemporary, Cape Town, Artemisia (Group Exhibition)

Loading Bay Gallery, Durban, Own a Space-July (Group Exhibition)

Loading Bay Gallery, Durban, Own a Space-August (Group Exhibition)

Breathing Space, Durban, Transition (Group Exhibition)

 

2015

Open Plan Studio, Durban, Tracksides (Group Exhibition)

Fringe Art Fair, Arts on Main, Johannesburg, Curate. a. space, curated by Carol Brown (Group Exhibition)

Hilton Arts Festival, Hilton, Eye Candy, curated by Carol Brown (Group Exhibition)

DUT Gallery, DUT Staff Exhibition (Group Exhibition)

Breathing Space, Anthropology III, curated by Grace Kotze (Group Exhibition)

 

2014

Durban Art Gallery, Looking Forward: Our lives in 2034 (Group Exhibition)

 

2013

ArtSpace Durban, Absa L’atilier Art Competition

ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg, Absa L’atilier Art Competition top 100

 

2012

The Collective, Durban, Three Boys and a Girl (Group Exhibition)

The Collective, Durban, Black and Blue (Group Exhibition)

ArtSpace Durban, Science Art/ Art Science (Group Exhibition)

ArtSpace Durban, d’ Art Exchange and Artists (Group Exhibition)

ArtSpace Durban, Absa L’atilier Art Competition

Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria, Sasol Signatures (Finalist)

 

2011

Durban University of Technology Art Gallery, Durban, Reuse (Group Exhibition)

 

2010

Durban University of Technology Art Gallery, Durban, Amazing Starts (Group Exhibition)

 

Professional Activities

2019-2024

Lecturer

Institution: Durban University of Technology

Department: Arts Extended Program

Subjects Taught: Two Dimensional Studies, Three Dimensional Studies, Arts Appreciation

2018

Lecturer

Institution: Durban University of Technology

Department: Fine Art and Jewellery Design (Fine Art)

Subjects Taught: Communications III (Proffessional Art Practice), Drawing II, Drawing III

2014-2017

Lecturers Assistant

Institution: Durban University of Technology

Department: Fine Art and Jewellery Design (Fine Art)

Subjects Taught: Communications III (Proffessional Art Practice), Sculpture III, Theory III, Drawing II

 

2015-2017

Lecturer

Institution: Durban University of Technology

Department: Dental Technology

Subject: Dental Drawing

2013-2016

Curators Assistant

Institution: Durban University of Technology

Department: Art Gallery

2015-2016

Curators Assistant

Company: Curate a Space

Curatorial Projects and Events

2016

Assistant Curator for exhibition Through Positive Eyes, Durban Art Gallery, Durban.

Assistant Curator for exhibition 20 Years Later: A Fresh Look at the Bill of Rights, African Art Center, Durban.

 

2014

Event Organizer/ Founder, #WhatifthisCity, (art event), DUT Art Gallery and Surroundings, Durban

Assistant Event Organizer Interpret Durban 5 (art event and competition), Live the Venue, Durban

Residencies

2017 -2018

Bremer Kunststipendium Residency, Germany (November 2017 - January 2018)

Collections

Public Collections: Durban Art Gallery, Durban, South Africa

                                 National Art Bank, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Private collections in: Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town, Lebanon, Spain, Holland, Australia, Germany

Associated Galleries

The Kwazulu Natal Society of the Arts, 166 Bulwer Rd, Bulwer, Durban, South Africa

Tamasa Gallery,740 Currie Rd, Durban, South Africa

State of the Art Gallery, 61 Shortmarket Street, Cape Town, South Africa 

THK, 52 Waterkant St, Cape Town, South Africa

Lizamore Gallery, 3 Hetty Ave, Fairland, Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

Heather Gaudio Fine Art, 66 Elm St, New Canaan, CT 06840, United States

A Pick Gallery, Via Bernardino Galliari, 15/C, 10125 Torino TO, Italy

Publications

Catalogues

Nixon,K. Once More. 2016.

Books

Benetton, L, Daehnke, N, van Rensburg, D . South Africa: 10 x 12 @ SA: Contemporary Artists from South Africa, 2014, Italy: Fabrica

Online Media

Mahala: www.mahala.co.za/?s=Karla+Nixon+  (2015)

Visi: www.visi.co.za/lifestyle/freshly-cut/

Durban is Yours: durbanisyours.co.za/2013/02/karla-nixon/

http://www.schwachhausen-online.de/nixon/ (2018)

http://www.bremer-heimstiftung.de/netzwerke/kunststipendium/ (2018)

Published Magazine

Daly, W.  October 2013. Get It (16-17)

Botha, C. August 2017. Garden and Home (18)

Spring 2017. Southern Vines (26)

June/July 2021. Visi (158)

Catalogues Featured In

Absa L’atilier Art Competition 2017

Sasol New Signatures Art Competition 2017

Imagine the untapped talent of the subconscious, Absa L’atilier Art Competition 2013

Sasol New Signatures Art Competition 2012

 

Biography

Karla Nixon was born in 1990 in Durban South African, however she spent her early childhood on a sugarcane estate in Swaziland before relocating to Durban. She is a Durban based artist who predominantly works with paper. She hand-cuts and sculpts intricate images and objects, drawn from her surrounding environments. She has used this medium to explore a multitude of themes each with underlying notions of Space and Place.  Although paper is central to her practice she works across disciplines with painting, sculpture, mixed media, collage, video, and installation.

 

Nixon completed her Master’s degree in Fine Art in 2017 at the Durban University of Technology, South Africa. Her degree focused on transience in the work of paper artists, which she completed with Cum Laude. During her studies, she received a few awards, namely the Sam Newton Trophy and the Deans Merit award, and was awarded an NRF Scholarship. Nixon was awarded and completed a 3-month artist residency in Bremen, Germany, in 2017-18. She has been selected as a finalist in both the Sasol and ABSA art competitions a number of times. Nixon has participated in a number of group shows in Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg, and has had a few small solo shows the most recent being, Just Underfoot, in 2022 at the Lizamore, Fairland Gallery, Johannesburg. Her work is in a number of private collections in South Africa, Lebanon, Australia, Spain and Holland. As well as in public collections including; the Durban Art Gallery and The National Art Bank.  Nixon is currently a lecturer in the Arts Extended Program at The Durban University of Technology.

Statement

My artistic journey and conceptual framework have evolved in tandem with my life experiences, delving into themes such as middle-class white suburbia, philosophical explorations of transience, ideas surrounding home from both capitalist and personal-theoretical perspectives, and introspective analyses of material culture, particularly textiles. Despite their apparent diversity, these explorations are united by the overarching theme of space and place—our innate human quest to define, inhabit, and sometimes exploit these constructs.

 

Working predominantly with paper in both two and three-dimensional formats, my art blurs traditional boundaries, residing at the intersection of painting and sculpture, collage and textile, craft and fine art. It is within this liminal space that my creativity thrives, drawing inspiration and conceptual depth.

 

While paper remains a primary medium, my practice spans various disciplines including painting, sculpture, mixed media, collage, video, and installation. Through these diverse mediums, I aim to celebrate and explore universal concepts such as form, mass, proportion, rhythm, structure, and colour, crafting visual landscapes imbued with tranquillity and order. Rhythm, movement, and colour serve as vital navigational tools within these fictive realms, inviting viewers into a serene meditation achieved through meticulous repetition and form.

 

Central to my artistic inquiry are the dualities inherent in the natural world—the perpetual dance between creation and destruction, order and chaos. These themes echo throughout my creative process, where torn fragments of paper are painstakingly reassembled into vibrant compositions, sparking new dialogues of colour, texture, and form. Each artwork becomes a microcosm of ordered entropy, where seemingly insignificant fractions merge to form moments of clarity amidst the chaos.

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