USHA SEEJARIM

BIOGRAPHY

Born 1974, Bethal, South Africa. Lives and works in Johannesburg, South Africa.

EDUCATION

2008     Masters Degree in Fine Arts (MA), University of Witwatersrand (WITS), Johannesburg, South Africa.

1999 B-Tech Degree in Fine Art, University of Johannesburg (Previously Technikon Witwatersrand), Johannesburg, South Africa.

1995 Diploma in Fine Art, University of Johannesburg (Previously Technikon Witwatersrand), Johannesburg, South Africa.

AWARDS & RESIDENCIES

2019     The Centre for the Less Good Idea’s Season 6 [workshop], Johannesburg, South Africa.

Artist in residence, SCAC Marestaing, Montesquieu – Volvestre, France.

Most Beautiful Object In South Africa (MBOISA) Award - Nominee, Design Indaba, Cape Town, South Africa.

2018     Tommorow’s/ Today Prize, sponsored by the Fondazione Fiera Milano, Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Cape Town International Art Fair, Cape Town, South Africa.

SCAC Marestaing & The Secular Solidarity Association Sculpture Award, Dakar Beinnale, Dakar, Senegal.

2013     Mbokodo Award (Sculpture) – Nominee, Cape Town, South Africa.

2008     Mercedes Benz Award for Art Projects in Public Spaces – Finalist, Berlin, Germany.

Business Day-Business and Arts South Africa Award (BASA) – Best use of New Commissioned Art for “Why Men”, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2007     Sasol Wax Art Award - Finalist, Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), Johannesburg, South Africa.

2003     Ampersand Fellowship Award, New York City, USA.

2002     First National Bank (FNB) Vita Art Award - Finalist, Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2001     Artist in Residence (as part of the Fresh Programme), IZIKO South African National Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa.

MTN Special Art Award presented to Visual Arts and Crafts Academy (VACA), Johannesburg, South Africa. 

Merit Award, Bursary, University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), Johannesburg, South Africa.

MTN New Contemporaries Award, Johannesburg, South Africa.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS & PRESENTATIONS

2019     Un balai, pourquoi pas une balai, SCAC Marestaing, Montesquieu – Volvestre, France.

Transgressing Power, SMAC Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2018     The Red Hour, curated by Simon Njami, Dak’Art: African Contemporary Art Biennale, Dakar, Senegal.

Keepers of the Common (Solo Booth), Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Cape Town, South Africa.

2017     Reasons for descending the staircase, Fried Contemporary, Pretoria, South Africa.

2015     Venus at Home [Travelling Exhibition], Durban Art Gallery, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa.

2014     Venus at Home [Travelling Exhibition], NWU Gallery, Northwest University (NWU), Potchefstroom, South Africa.

2013     Venus at Home [Travelling Exhibition], Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), Johannesburg, South Africa.

2012     Venus at Home [Travelling Exhibition], Atherstone Gallery, National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, South Africa.

2009/10 Mine over Matter, Gallery MOMO, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2006 The Hole Truth, Gallery MOMO, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2004 in place, Gallery MOMO, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2003 Forms in Transit, Natal Society for the Arts (NSA), Durban, South Africa.

1999 Long Distance, One Person Exhibition, Generator Art space, Johannesburg, South Africa.

GROUP EXHIBITIONS & PRESENTATIONS

2019     1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair (SMAC Gallery), Somerset House, London, UK.

Ampersand Foundation Award 21 years celebration exhibition, University of Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), Johannesburg, South Africa.

FNB Art Joburg (SMAC Gallery), Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa.

WomanISM, 12th OSTRALE Biennale for Contemporary Art, Goethe Institute; Ausländerrat; Historic Tobacco Factory f6, Dresden, Germany.

Investec Cape Town Art Fair (SMAC Gallery), Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Cape Town, South Africa.

2018     Wish You Were Here, SMAC Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa.

Weather Report [Travelling Exhibition], Havana, Cuba.

FUBA: Preserving a Legacy, Keyes Art Mile, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Group Presentation, Aardklop National Arts Festival, Potchefstroom, South Africa.

Trans, curated by Daniella Géo, University of Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), Johannesburg, South Africa.

Black Humour, curated by Johan Thom, Fried Contemporary, Pretoria, South Africa.

The Art of Lithography: A collaborative Expression of LL Editions, Wits Art Museum, Johannesburg, South Africa.

FNB Joburg Art Fair(SMAC Gallery), Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa.

BACK TO THE FUTURE III - Abstract Art in South Africa: Past & Present, SMAC Gallery, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

2016     Hide & Seek, curated by Teresa Lizamore, Lizamore@Claivaux (Claivaux Estate), Cape Town, South Africa.

Foundations and Futures - 25 Year Exhibition, Bag Factory, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2015     timeline, The Bag Factory Artist Studios, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Twenty: Art in The Time of Democracy [Travelling Exhibition], curated by Gordon Froud, University of Johannesburg (UJ), Johannesburg, South Africa; Turchin Centre, North Carolina, USA; Beijing Biennale, Beijing, China.

Nirox Winter Sculpture Fair, Nirox Sculpture Park, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2014     Pre-election Connection, Wits Art Museum (WAM), University of the Witwatersrand (WITS), Johannesburg, South Africa.

2011     Where do we migrate to?, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA.

2009     Innovative Women, Constitutional Court, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Postcards to the Edge, Guth Gafa Documentary Film Festival, Gortahork, Ireland.

2007     Latitudes, Lands of the Worlds, Paris City Hall, Terres du Monde, Havanna; Paris, France. (Catalogue)

     Sasol Wax Art Award, Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), Johannesburg, South Africa.

2005     Another World, curated by Simon Njami, 6th African Encounters of Photography, Master Classes (photography workshop), Bamako, Mali. (Catalogue)

2004     Post, curated by Kenji Shiraishi & Monna Mokoena, Tama Art University Museum, Tokyo, Japan. (Catalogue)

Sugar in the Petrol [Travelling Exhibition], curated by Doris Bloom, Festival

Fotografia, Rome, Italy; Festival Filosofia, Modena, Carpi, Sassuolo.

A Place Called Home [Travelling Exhibition], curated by Zayd Minty, Natal Society for the Arts (NSA), Durban; Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town; Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), Johannesburg, South Africa.

2003     Latitudes 2003, curated by Regine Cuzin, Hotel Deville, Paris, France. (Catalogue)

Show Me Home, curated by Mads Damsbo, Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), Johannesburg, South Africa. (Catalogue)

Playtime (Festival hosted by the French Institute), Newtown, Johannesburg, South Africa.

How Latitudes become Forms [Travelling Exhibition], curated by Philippe Vergne, Douglas Fogle & Olukemi Ilesanmi, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Torino, Mexico City and Monterrey, USA. (Catalogue)

Forms in Transit, Natal Society for the Arts (NSA), Durban, South Africa.

2002     FNB Vita Art Award Exhibition, Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Sublimation, curated by Katherine Smith, Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees, Outshoorn, South Africa. (Catalogue)

Videoformes, curated by Gabriel Soucheyre; South African programme compiled by Clive van den Berg, Carnet de voyage: Afrique du Sud, Expositions Festival, Paris, France. (Catalogue)

2001     Self, curated by Clive van den Berg, Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees, Outshoorn, South Africa. (Catalogue)

MTN New Contemporaries, curated by Clive Kellner, Camouflage,

Johannesburg, South Africa. (Catalogue)

Joubert Park Public Art Project, Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG) & Joubert Park Precinct, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Fresh, IZIKO South African National Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa (series of Monographs & Zanazo, Vol.2)

2000     Urban Futures, Rembrandt van Rijn, Market Theater, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Interchange - Moving Images, curated by autopsia, Camouflage, Brussels, Belgium.

Killing Time, Civic Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Weft and Warp, Civic Gallery, Johannesburg, south Africa.

1999     Isinto, curated by Tumelo Mosaka and Zayd Minty, IZIKO South African National Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa.

Unplugged IV, Rembrandt van Rijn Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Personal concerns, Rembrandt van Rijn Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa.

 1998 Ethiopian Arts and Culture Festival, Ethiopia.

1997 50 Stories, curated by Storm van Rensburg and Tracey Rose, Carlton Center, Johannesburg, South Africa.

  Baggage, Mega Music Warehouse, Newtown, Johannesburg, South Africa.

1996     Technikon Witwatersrand Student Exhibition, Rembrandt van Rijn, Market Theatre, Newtown, Johannesburg, South Africa.

1991     Long Distance, Generator Art Space, Newtown, Johannesburg, South Africa.

JP Blachere Foundation (photography workshop & exhibition), Joucas, France.

PUBLIC & CORPORATE ART COMMISSIONS & PROJECTS

2019     Linkshul Community, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2018     I am because you are: A Search for Ubuntu with Permission to Dream,

Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa. Sculpture & Mosaic, Sibikwa Art Centre, Benoni, South Africa. Outdoor Screen, Linksfield Shul, Johannebsurg, South Africa.

2016/17 Flutterbys and An Innocent Moment of Freedom, The Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2016     Sweep, Drawings in the Sky, Absa Towers, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2015     Light Installation (as embellishment during the festive season), Embassy of Switzerland, Pretoria, South Africa.

2014     Pebble Mosaic, Prince Albert Art Festival, Prince Albert, South Africa.

2013     Wire drawing of Nelson Mandela, Discovery Leadership Summit, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Beaded portrait for the funeral of president Nelson Mandela, Qunu, South Africa.

Forgiveness, Magistrates Court & Nelson Mandela’s House, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2010     BRT Station Mooki, Main Street, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2009/10 Why Men Illuminated Public Sculpture, Site Specific Johannesburg, South Africa.

2008/09 Why Men Illuminated Public Sculpture, Site Specific Johannesburg, South Africa.

2009     Giant Light Sculpture, Mzansi Store, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2008     Sun Screens, South African Embassy, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Sculptures Illustrating the Freedom Charter, Walter Sisulu Square, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Site Specific “Mural”, Eskom Head Office, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2007/08 Why Men Illuminated Public Sculpture, Site Specific, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2007     Cascoland (Public Art Project), Drill Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2006 In recognition of Mahatma Gandhi, Memorial/Marker celebrating Sunday Time’s centenary, Public Artwork, Fordsburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2005 Christmas Tree, Anglo American & de Beers, Main Street, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Pin Code MTN, MTN Head Office, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2002   Billboard for the Art in the City Project, Cell C Head Office, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2000     Levi’s Vintage Clothing Catalogue, Sandton City, Johannesburg, South Africa.

COLLECTIONS

Iziko South African National Gallery (SANG), Cape Town, South Africa.

South African Foundation For Contemporary Art (SAFFCA), Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, South Africa.

Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), Johannesburg, South Africa. Fondazione Fiera Milan, Milan, Italy

Artbank, Johannesburg, South Africa.