GRADY T ZEEMAN

ARTIST BIO

Grady T Zeeman (b South Africa) is a contemporary painter who graduated from Cape Technicon as a Fashion Designer in 1988. She worked as a designer in Cape Town, before marriage and moving back to her home town.

As painting was her first love, she decided to give it more attention. She earnestly developed her technical skills in oil painting, and broadened her knowledge through courses in Art History, navigating the art world and curating exhibitions.

In 2008, she had her first international group exhibition in India, and in October 2020 her first solo exhibition in Rome, Italy. She has participated in various exhibitions in South Africa, USA, UK, Europe, and Asia. Zeeman has also taken part in the Florence Biennale 2011, Siel de Paris 2012, London Biennale 2019, and Amsterdam Art Fair 2019.

Her work has been published in NY Arts Magazine, South African Art Times, Arttour International Magazine (mentioned as a Top Artist to watch in 2018 and 2024), “50 Artists to Watch” 2023 edition by Florence Contemporary, as well as numerous other books and magazines.

She has received several art prizes and has been a finalist in a couple of art competitions, as well as a Finalist in the Global Art Awards in Dubai 2017.

From 2011 to 2017 Zeeman was the owner of the Kunstehuijs Art Gallery where she exhibited her own work, as well as the work of other South African artists.

She is currently represented by Agora Gallery - NY; Artio Gallery - Toronto; Art Screen TV - Basel; Maison Contemporain - Paris; Cavendish Contemporary Gallery - Cape Town.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Bridging the Disconnect:
In our modern era of technology and digital connection, true human communication and meaningful interaction have often become elusive. As Bob Moorehead so aptly observed: "The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less. We buy more, but enjoy less…..we build more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communication.”

Despite being more "connected" than ever before through smartphones, social media, and endless messaging platforms, many people feel increasingly isolated, misunderstood, and starved for genuine interaction. Effective communication is the foundation of strong and healthy connections, yet too many individuals struggle to express their thoughts, feelings, and needs. Addressing the issue of poor communication requires fostering self-awareness, improving active listening skills, and creating safe spaces for open and honest dialogue, which unfortunately is rarely mastered.

Equally concerning is the growing neglect of the relationship and communication with one's spiritual higher self, an essential connection to the divine, and a source of wisdom, guidance, and enlightenment.

My artistic practice explores this disconnect, delving into the psychology of communication in our contemporary world. Through the layering of acrylic and oil paint, as well as the interplay of colours, I aim to create depth and complexity that symbolises the intricacy of human emotions and connectivity.

Ultimately, this body of work serves as a thoughtful reflection on the bittersweet paradoxes that pervade contemporary communication. It invites the viewer to consider how we might reclaim genuine, meaningful dialogue and a sense of community in an age that often appears to work against our most fundamental human needs for connection and understanding.

To be Human:
It is said that to be human means to be fully engaged in a lifelong learning journey, to acknowledge that there is no such thing as perfection, and that most of us are just doing the best we can, with the tools we have. When we recognize that we are all spiritual beings, having a human experience, we become aware that we are essentially the same. Regardless of race, culture, religion, or sex, we have the same desires, the same emotions, the same reactions.

As Shylock in Shakespeare’s - Merchant of Venice so aptly said: “ If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?”

In the field of Epigenetics, scientists focus on how our environment can cause changes that affect the way our genes work. This means that the environment we are raised in, whether cultural, religious, or financial can have a huge impact on how we think, what our future holds, and even our physical and mental state. So though we are all the same, the major cause for our separation from one another is our hearts that hardened from programming or trauma. If, however, we were to soften our hearts and open our minds, we would find a beauty in one another that surpasses race, culture, religion, sex, etc.

I have always been fascinated by history and politics, and I considered studying political science when I was younger. Later I realized that I could do so much more through my art, than from a political podium. It is my desire that my love for the Divine, my love for humanity, and my love for life itself, is evident in my paintings; and that my legacy through my art will be Love, Hope, and Light.

In this series, I focus on people that I come across in everyday life. As I witness a moment in their lives, I am quite aware that I do not know them and have no idea about their joys, their fears, their traumas, who they love, or how deeply. I am only aware that to be human is to have the impulse and desire for connection, which draws me closer.

Linda Thompson’s statement on humanity resonates with me: “Our uniqueness, our individuality, and our life experience mould us into fascinating beings. I hope we can embrace that. I pray we may all challenge ourselves to delve into the deepest resources of our hearts to cultivate an atmosphere of understanding, acceptance, tolerance, and compassion. We are all in this life together.”