Matthew Whippman - South African Artist, Drawings, Paintings 1901 - 1973
Matthew Whippman was born in Pontypridd, Wales 1901 - 1973
Art Education
1929: graphic techniques at Wits Tech Art School, otherwise selftaught
Short Artist Biography
1920: Matthew Whippman came to South Africa; spent some time in the Eastern Province before settling in Johannesburg; employed in a variety of fields; painted for pleasure.
1929: on the advice of Prof FW Armstrong of Wits Tech, Matthew Whippman gave his attention to etching; concentrated on graphic media for several years.
1935: Matthew Whippman returned to painting in his spare time; in company with many Johannesburg artists, had his works framed by the long-established firm, Rand Picture Framers.
1945: when the above-mentioned business came up for sale he decided to buy it and to devote his full
attention to the world of art.
1950: Matthew Whippman established an art-gallery on his business-premises as a venue for the International Art Club; lent his encouragement to the contemporary currents which were developing in South African art; his was one of the first galleries to exhibit abstract work.
1953: Matthew Whippman held the first exhibition of his own paintings at the gallery.
1965: invited to exhibit with 10 other South African artists at Grosvenor Gallery, London; continued to paint, but showed very infrequently; directed his energy to promoting local public interest in international graphic art.
Art Exhibitions
1953: first one-man exhib, infrequently thereafter; participated on various group-exhibitions in South Africa.
1965: `South African Artists' Grosvenor Gallery, London.
1966: Republic Fest Exhibition, Pretoria.
1971: Prestige Exhibition, William Humphreys Gallery, Kimberley.
1974: Memorial Exhibition, Johannesburg Art Gallery
1977: Exhibition of Selected Works, Pretoria Art Museum
Public Art Collections
William Humphreys Gallery, Kimberley; Hester Rupert Art Museum; Rembrandt Art Foundation; Univ of Wits Galleries; Johannesburg Art Gallery; Pretoria Art Museum; Sandton Municiple Art Collection
Source
Berman, E. 1994. Art & Artists of South Africa . Southern Book Publishers.
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