(1983 – )

Tamara Osso
Contemporary
Overview
“My work is about an awareness of the body in space. Movement is a central theme to my process and is ever-present. The tactile act of painting allows this awareness to become actualised. I find dynamic form through painting derived from my daily rituals and movements. Painting is both a distancing mechanism as well as a proprioceptive experience. It assists me in reorganising the structure of things and helps me to position myself in the world. The dancer in me revels in such an adaptive process like painting and my work seeks to translate moments of physical interaction; be they joyous, difficult, or mundane. I like how these moments can be suspended, extended, or revisited. They therefore subscribe to the notion that personal, physical intimacy is valuable.”
Biography

Born in 1982, Osso is a South African artist based in Johannesburg. In 2014, she completed her MAFA degree (with distinction) at WITS University and later, her PGCE certificate (with distinction) in education. She is currently teaching and making art.

 Osso’s artworks grapple with the connection between the immediacy of performance and the physicality of painting. In her career, she excelled as a ballet and contemporary dancer and performed with numerous local and international theatre companies before pursuing her studies in the visual arts field. Her work incorporates both the body and movement, resulting in dynamic and dramatic paintings that represent an abstract psychological and emotional process, translated into a visceral, real result. Translating marks into movement and movement into marks.

Education

2018 
PGCE teaching certificate (with distinction) at WITS University. 

2014 
The University of the Witwatersrand Masters (with Distinction) in Fine Art 

2010  The University of Witwatersrand. Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts.

Exhibitions

2023

Sunny Side Up, Group Exhibition, Graham Contemporary, Johannesburg, South Africa

2022

New Day, Group Exhibition, Graham Contemporary, Johannesburg, South Africa

2021
RMB Talent Unlocked Exhibition. Curated by Londi Modiko. Circa Gallery, Johannesburg Strauss & Co Auction in partnership with RMB Private Bank. https://www.straussart.co.za/auctions/lot/23-aug-2021/71  

2020
THE LOCKDOWN COLLECTION AUCTION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LATITUDES ONLINE.  All proceeds from Open Call Collection will go to the participating artists, the Vulnerable Artist Fund and Latitudes Outreach.https://latitudes.online/auctions.html 

2019
Redfest Arts Festival. Curated by Marisa Mare. Redhill School, Johannesburg. produced by Tamara Osso. 

2018
Opposing Moments. Curated by Kalashnikovv Gallery. Graham’s Fine Art Gallery, Johannesburg. 

2017
Tutu in collaboration with Moving into Dance Mophatong. Produced, directed and written by Tamara Osso. Dance Umbrella, WITS Theatre, Johannesburg. POP-UP Art Exhibition. Curated by Beth Van Heerden and the FirstRand Art Committee in collaboration with Assemblage and Artist Proof Studio. Art@First, Sandton.The Emerging Painters exhibition titled Touch. Curated by Jessica Webster in collaboration with Amber-Jade Geldenhuys and MC Roodt at The Turbine Art Fair, Johannesburg

2016
The Craftsmen’s Ship Building Launch in collaboration with Counterspace, Moving into Dance Mophatong and Stephen Hobbs. Choreographed by Tamara Osso. Maboneng Precinct, Johannesburg.Who’s in that space? Curated by Tamara Osso. That Space, Newtown, Johannesburg. “I See You…Me”. Curated by Sally Shorkend. SoMa Art + Space, Maboneng, Johannesburg, South Africa  

2015
The Last Supper. An interactive sculpture with performance by Gina Kraft. Goethe On Main. Maboneng, Johannesburg. 

2014
Artist vs. Artist; a Wits Masters exhibition by Tamara Osso. The Substation WSOA. Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Expressions Of Freedom. Curated by Kalashnikovv Gallery in association with Basha Uhuru Freedom Festival Space. Women’s Jail Exhibition Space at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg.

2013
Et al. Curated by Brendan Copestake and Neil Nieuwoudt. NIROXprojects, Arts on Main, Maboneng Precinct, Johannesburg 

2012  Process this/ . UCT/WITS Masters Exchange Exhibition. Michaelis Galleries at the University of Cape Town. 

2011
The Joburg Fringe: Art of Assemblage. Curated by Mandy Johnston. Braamfontein, Johannesburg. I Am Not You. Curated by Murray Turpin was a multimedia exhibition. The Mills, Carr Street in Newtown  David Krut, produced a series of monotypes at the David Krut Workshop at Arts on Main, Maboneng Precinct, Johannesburg. The Painter’s Show. Curated by Satellite Spaces/ The Untitled Gallery. Main Street Life, Johannesburg.

 2010
Ke Ai presents Popo.Me Exhibition in collaboration with Deconstruction Events. 70 Juta the new Design Quarter  Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Jan Blohm: Tangerine. Music video produced, directed & edited by Francis Gavin, DoP Garreth Fradgley Featuring Taryn Sudding, Matias Dias, Nurit Graaf & Francis Gavin. Production Design: Tamara Osso & Quinton Williams Wardrobe & Make-Up: Tandi MeikleThe Black Hotels: No Sign of Science. Music video produced, directed, shot and edited by Francis Gavin Featuring Tamara Osso and Clive Gilson. Art Direction by Tamara Osso 

2009
Sasol New Signatures. Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria. Virtually Real. Undergraduate Exhibition. WSOA Sub-station, Johannesburg. 

2007-8
Beyond the Line. Curated by Katrin von Maltzahn in collaboration with WITS University. The Goethe Institute, Johannesburg.  The Martienssen Prize finalist exhibition. 2008. WITS University, Johannesburg. 

2004 – 2006
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera. Toured with the company for over a year at Artscape Theatre, Cape Town. The State Theatre, Pretoria.The Grand Theatre, Shanghai, Tianqiao Performance Center, Beijing and Asia World Arena Hong Kong. 

2002 – 2005
Professional Ballet and contemporary dancer. Worked under the direction of Adele Blank for FreeFlight Contemporary Dance Company performing numerous pieces in various theatres. Notable performances include Windows with Ballet Theatre African under the direction of Martin Shonberg. Touring extensively around South Africa performing at KKNK and Grahamstown Festivals and performing Blood Wedding at the Civic Theatre Johannesburg with La Rosa Spanish Dance Company.  

2001 – 2002
Danced in numerous performances at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town and toured The Garden Route as part of a Rotary fundraising initiative performing in a variety of Classical Excerpts, as well as African Dance pieces choreographed by Maxwell Xholani.

1998-2000
Principal dancer with the Johannesburg Youth Ballet – danced the lead role in excerpts from the Ballet’s Le Corsaire, Sleeping Beauty and Pas de Fiancé. Contemporary works directed by Robyn Orlan and Tanya Futter.

Awards

SAMA Award Winner 2010 

The Parlotones; Push me to the floor. Winner MK Award for Best Music Video 2010 Winner SAMA Award for Best Music Video 2010 Directed by Jolyon Ellis and Francis Gavin Produced & Edited by Francis Gavin Performance Coach Janine King Featuring Tandi Meikle and Kahn Morbee DoP Garreth Fradgley Production Manager Janine King. Production Design by Tamara Osso, Ruth Rom & Robin de Jager.

Sasol New Signatures Finalist 2009

Featured Artwork