(1965 – )

Tracy Payne
Contemporary
Overview

Eastern spirituality, sexuality, and the dual nature of life are consistent threads running through my work. Our world is out of balance and a reckoning is afoot.

In 2012, I took up residence in India for three months. My pilgrimage was as much for spiritual reasons as for artistic inspiration. I visited shrines devoted to Hindu deities, some humble and intimate, hidden in a back street or under a grove of trees, others grand and ornate, like the temples of Khajuraho dotted over acres of land standing tall with their incredible Tantric sculpture encrusted walls. Some housed life-like sculptures Hindu deities; others were subtler, a simple elongated ovoid form sculpted from stone erected on a round base.

I came to learn that together they are aniconic representations of the Hindu deities Shiva and Shakti, the divine masculine and the divine feminine, also known as the Lingam and the Yoni. Together, they symbolize the union of the feminine and the masculine and the divine eternal process of creation and regeneration, known in esoteric terms as the Sacred Marriage or ‘Hieros Gamos’. This resonated with me profoundly.

Bringing these two seemingly opposed energies into balance, thereby creating harmony has always been and still is my mission. One of my earliest works exploring this duality, a diptych titled Day and Night, dates back to high school.  Forty years on and I am still dancing in duality, the light is becoming brighter.

Two years after my return from India after a period of incubation, the Lingam form began appearing in my artistic practice. I made chalk pastel drawings, ink and watercolour paintings, numerous tiny jewel-like oil paintings and even a few ceramic pieces, all embodying this beautiful shape.

Lingam, 2018, comes from this series of works titled Primal Form, 2014 – till present and is the largest work from the series to date. Working with the alchemical process of transformation, the violent red lingam is turned to gold by the elixir of life.

In 2020, I created 6 suites of Bi-Pods (Bisexual Pods); each suite is made up of 18 A4 sized drawings. In choosing the primal form that embodies both masculine and feminine principals, I am unifying duality and embracing the non-binary experience of Divine Androgyny. Also, by focusing on a different colour of the light spectrum for each suite, I experience the healing properties of colour, how each colour has it’s own temperature and the ability to evoke different feelings, thoughts and memories.

For my last suite of drawings titled Solar Bi-Pods, I chose to work with Yellow. According to Eastern traditions yellow is associated with our 3rd chakra or Manipura, Sanskrit for “city of jewels”. Located within the solar plexus, represented by the element fire, this chakra acts as the center of personal power.

I offer my work as a meditative tool, inviting contemplation with the hope of personal and planetary healing by bringing unbalanced duality into alignment and becoming One.

Chronology

b.1965, Cape Town, South Africa
Lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa

Education

1987                                         
Bachelor of Fine Art Degree (BA), Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town (UCT), Cape Town, South Africa

2011 – 2015                             
ASTAR (Accessing Spirit Through Art)
3 years in-studio experience
ASTAR Teaching Facilitator Certificate in 2015.

 

Exhibitions

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2013    
Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town, ZA

2011   
Muse, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town, ZA

2008   
Awaken, Kizo Gallery, Kwazulu Natal, ZA

2007   
Sacred Yang, Michael Stevenson, Cape Town, ZA

2005   
Sacred Yin, Michael Stevenson, Cape Town, ZA

2004   
Post-Tokyo, Irma Stern Museum, Cape Town, ZA

2001
Flashback, Joao Ferreira Gallery, Cape Town, ZA

1998   
Hush Hush: A Love Story, 73 Rose Street, Bo-Kaap, Cape Town, ZA

GROUP EXHIBITIONS 
2023
Optimal Vibration, Group exhibition, Graham Contemporary, Johannesburg, South Africa

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

2022
New Day, Group exhibition, Graham Contemporary, Johannesburg, South Africa
Parallax Art Fair, Presented by Anthony Tischhauser, London, UK
Turbine Art Fair, curated by Ashraf Jamal. Booth Asisebenze Art Atelier, Johannesburg, ZA
Art on Paper XIII, Kalk Bay Modern, Cape Town, ZA
Death Row Dinner, THEFOURTH, Cape Town, ZA

2021            
Stories of Our Soil, curated by Ruzy Risike, The Melrose Gallery, Melrose
Arch, Johannesburg, Z
In Conversation with Colour Symphony, curated by Eliz-Marie Schoonbee, presented by the Rupert Museum, Jan Rupert Centre, Graaff-Reinet, ZA
Art on Paper XII, Kalk Bay Modern, Cape Town, ZA
Home is where the Art is, Zeits MOCAA, Cape Town, ZA

2020            
Home is Where the Art Is, ZEITS M
Wild Wild Life, curated by Alex Hamilton, An online exhibition presented by Gallery at Glen Carlou, Klapmuts, ZA
Art on Paper XI, Kalk Bay Modern, Cape Town, ZA
Untitled, curated by Brett Bellairs, 131A Gallery, Foreshore, Cape Town, ZA                        

2019            
MERDELAMERDELAMER… curated by Kendell Geers, Mario Mauroner Contemporary Art, Vienna, Austria.
Winter, Everard Read/CIRCA, Cape Town, ZA
Nano 1.3, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town, ZA
Urban Archeology, DAOR Contemporary, Port of Cape Town, ZA
For the Love of It, Pop Up Place, Cape Town, ZA

2018            
Regroup, Gallery 196, Woodstock, Cape Town, ZA

2017            
Colours, Imibala gallery, Somerset West, Cape Town, ZA

2016
Vernissage, Moor Gallery, Franschhoek, ZA
Berth, A two women show, 196 Victoria, Cape Town, ZA
Breath Water Sound, Ongaro, Cape Town, ZA
Lineage, Ongaro, Cape Town, ZA
Of Monuments and Men, Imibala Gallery, Somerset West, ZA
A Certain Kind of Madness, Imibala Gallery, Somerset West, ZA

2015
Drawing the Line, Art b Gallery, Bellville, Cape Town, ZA

2014             
Imago Mundi, [Travelling Exhibition], Museo Carlo Bilotti, Rome; Ca’ dei     Carraresi, Treviso, Italy
Seeking Eden, Casa Labia Gallery, Natale Labia Museum, Cape Town, ZA
FNB Joburg Art Fair, 22.08.14 – 24.08.14, Booth: Barnard Gallery, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, ZA
Dinner Collection, Barnard Gallery, Newlands, Cape Town, ZA
Paint Matters, Barnard Gallery, Newlands, Cape Town, ZA
Naak, Art.b Gallery, Belllville, South Africa
What Lies Beneath, Equus Gallery, Cavalli Estate, Somerset West, ZA

2013            
Dinner Collection, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town, ZA
Changing Faces, Profiling Portraits in South African Art, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town, ZA
Cape Town Art Fair, 25.10.13 – 27.10.13, Barnard Gallery, The Pavilion – V&A Waterfront, Cape Town ZA
FNB Joburg Art Fair, 27.09.13 – 29.09.13, Barnard Gallery, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, ZA

2012             
Dinner Collection, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town, ZA
Summer Collection, Casa Labia Gallery, Cape Town, ZA
Cacophony Collection, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town, ZA
FNB Joburg Art Fair, 07.09.12 – 09.09.12, Barnard Gallery, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, ZA

2011           
The Gallery Collection, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town, ZA
Michaelis Alumni: Exhibition and Auction, Michaelis Gallery, Cape Town, ZA
Terpentyn, Suidoosterfees, Artsscape, Cape Town, ZA
Eleven Strokes: US Woordfees, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, ZA

2010             
The Gift of Art, I Art, Cape Town, ZA
Casa Labia in Bloom, Natale Labia Museum, Cape Town, ZA
Heems, Kruisrivier Farm, Route 62, Klein Karoo, ZA
Print: An exhibition of etchings, These Four Walls, Cape Town, ZA

2009            
Summer 2009/10: Projects, STEVENSON, Cape Town, ZA
Self/Not-Self, STEVENSON, Johannesburg, ZA
Harbour: The Expression of Containment in Contemporary South African Art, Kwazulu Natal, ZA
The Art of the Human Canvas, Tattoo Convention, Cape Town International Convention Center (CTICC), Cape Town, ZA
Let Them Eat Cake, Dorpstraat Galery, Stellenbosch, Cape Town, ZA

2008
FNB Joburg Art Fair, 13.03.08 – 16.03.08, STEVENSON, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, ZA

2007            
Summer 2007/8, STEVENSON, Cape Town, ZA

2006            
New Painting, KZNSA Gallery, Kwazulu Natal, UNISA Art Gallery, Pretoria and Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), Johannesburg, ZA
Second to None: Women – South African Icons, Iziko South African NationalGallery, Cape Town, ZA
South African Art Now, Michael Stevenson, Cape Town, ZA

2005            
South African Art 1840 – Now, Michael Stevenson, Cape Town, ZA
South African Art 1848 – Now, Michael Stevenson, Cape Town, ZA

2004            
Poynton, Victor and Payne, Michael Stevenson, Cape Town, ZA
South African art 1850 – Now, Michael Stevenson, Cape Town, ZA
‘Group Exhibition’, Mud Gallery, Barrydale, ZA

2003           
Ydesire, Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town, ZA
Winter Warmers, Joao Ferreira Gallery, Cape Town, ZA

2000            
Emergency, Bell-Roberts Gallery, Cape Town, ZA
Levi’s Vintage Clothing Artists Project, Greenmarket Square and Waterfront Stores, Cape Town, ZA

1999        
Sacred Symbols: Inner Vision, 3rd I Gallery, Cape Town, ZA
Angels Blue, Bang! The Gallery, Cape Town, ZA

1998        
Unplugged 3, Rembrandt Van Rijn Gallery, Johannesburg, ZA
Deposits, Idasa Gallery, Cape Town, ZA
Bloom, Area Gallery, Cape Town, ZA
Scrawl, Mau Mau Gallery, Cape Town, ZA
Urban Objects of Desire, Mau Mau Gallery, Cape Town, ZA

1997        
Art Greetings, Hanel Gallery, Cape Town, ZA

1996             
Cognisance: Ingqwalasela: Herkenning, South African Association of Arts, Cape Town, ZA

1995        
Gay Rights Rewrites, Malcolm Melkhuis, Cape Town, ZA

1994         
Women on Men: Men on Women, Seeff Trust Gallery, Cape Town, ZA
Photoworks, South African Association for Visual Art (AVA), Cape Town, ZA

1993             
Safe Sex, The Artsstrip, Assocciation of Arts, Cape Town, ZA
Volkskas Atelier Award Exhibition, Association for Visual Art  (AVA), Pretoria and Cape Town, ZA
Women on Women, Seeff Trust Gallery, Cape Town, ZA

1992         
Volkskas Atelier Award Exhibition, Association for Visual Art (AVA) Arts, Cape Town, ZA
Introducing: Brice, Smith and Payne, Irma Stern Museum, Cape Town, ZA
Pace Dance Exhibition, Baxter Gallery, Cape Town, ZA
Flash of the Spirit, Baxter Gallery, Cape Town, ZA
Artsstrip, Opening exhibition at The Association for Visual Art (AVA), Cape Town, ZA

1991          
Volkskas Atelier Award Exhibition, Association for Visual Art (AVA), Cape Town, ZA
Members Exhibition, Association for Visual Art (AVA), Cape Town, ZA
Drawing, Baxter Gallery, Cape Town, ZA

1990
The Art Market Gallery, Cape Town, ZA

1989
Cornucopia Gallery, Cape Town, ZA

1988
Hipnosis Gallery, Johannesburg, ZA

AUCTION INVITATIONS
2018        
Siyakhula Michaelis Fundraising Auction hosted by Aspire Art Auctions

2017
The Cape Orchid Society hosted by Stephan Weltz and Co.

2016        
The Cape Leopard Trust

2011
Michaelis Alumni: Exhibition and Auction, Michaelis Gallery.

PRESS AND PUBLICATIONS
2022
Jamal A, STRANGE CARGO: Essays on Art, Tracy Payne: Consolation

2021
Kaganof A, HERRI 6, Tracy Payne: Veiled, https://herri.org.za/6/tracy-payne/

2014
Benetton, L.| 2014, SOUTH AFRICA: 10 x 12 @ Sa. Contemporary Artists
From South Africa, FABRICA, Treviso, Italy.

2012       
Jamal, A. 2012, Preview: Metaphysics, Bling and Pop, Art South Africa, Cape Town, ZA
Dreyer E & McDowall E, Imagining the flâneur as a woman: South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research. Vol 38(1), April: 30-44. (ISSN 0250-0167)

2011        
Barnard Gallery, 2011 – TRACY PAYNE: MUSE

2009     
Stevenson, M. 2009, SUMMER 2009/10: PROJECTS, STEVENSON, Cape Town, ZA

2007       
Stevenson, M. 2007, SUMMER 2007/8, STEVENSON, Cape Town, ZA
Stevenson, M. 2007, TRACY PAYNE: SACRED YANG, STEVENSON, Cape Town, ZA

2006       
Janse van Rensburg, S. 2006, NEW PAINTING, KZN, ZA
Gurney, K. 2006, An artist’s life: Tracy Payne, Painting as a meditative exercise, Business Day
Stevenson, M. 2006, SOUTH AFRICAN ART NOW, STEVENSON, Cape Town, ZA

2005       
Stevenson, M. 2005, SOUTH AFRICAN ART 1840 – NOW, STEVENSON, Cape Town, ZA
Stevenson, M. 2005, TRACY PAYNE: SACRED YIN, STEVENSON, Cape Town, ZA
Monson, J. 2005, Redemption Song, Art South Africa, Cape Town, ZA
Stevenson, M. 2005, SOUTH AFRICAN ART 1848 – NOW, STEVENSON, Cape Town, ZA
Elfrieda Dreyer, 2005. Articulations of the city as a gendered construct. de arte 71. Pretoria: UNISA:4 -13. (ISSN 0004-3389). Reworked conference paper presented at Visual Culture/Explorations conference, UP, 9 & 10 July 2004.

2004      
Stevenson, M. 2004, SOUTH AFRICAN ART1850 – NOW, STEVENSON, Cape Town, ZA

1998             
du Preez, A.1998, No More I Love You’s: Gender Moving Into The   Androgynous   Twilight Zone, De Arte, UNISA
Williamson, S. and Jamal, A. 1998, Hush Hush, Art in South Africa: The Future Present, Cape Town, ZA

1994       
Jolly, L. 1994, Alabaster Flesh, ADA
Jamal, A. 1994, Payne Expression, Showcase

1993       
Jamal, A. 1993, Whatever I do is me, Vrye Weekblad

VIDEO

2009
WHAT’S YOUR STORY, filmed and directed by One Small Seed TV.  www.onesmallseed.tv
IN SEARCH OF SAKURA, directed by Takako Mori, Japan
7 min. documentary

2001       
AEROSOUL, by Jean Meeren, ZA

2002
HUSH, a Portrait of Tracy Payne, by Renee Scheltema
A 52 min. documentary spanning four years of my creative process, from 1996 to 2000, Cape Town, ZA
Shown in the official program of ‘The International Festival of Woman’s Films’, Creteil, France. Selected to run in the Art Film Festival, Asolo, Italy

Awards & Scholarships

1995
Mondi Paper Magazine Award
Winner in the category of Design and Illustration, for ‘Scent of a Woman’, Sunday Life Magazine, The Argus

1986              
Michaelis (UCT) Class Medal
Mac Iver Scholarship

1985              
Mac Iver Scholarship
Rusteburg Girl’s High  School Art Prize

Collections

Luciano Benetton Collection, Treviso, Italy
Hans Porer Collection, Switzerland
Spier Art Collection, Cape Town
South African Department of Public Works
Swiss Re Life and Health, Cape Town
South African Fruit Exporters, Cape Town

Teaching

2021-2022    
Private one-on-one painting lessons

2015 – 2018
Art facilitator, Victoria Art Studio, Woodstock, Cape Town

2011             
Student mentorship

1990 – 1996   
Standard 8 Art, Saint Francis Adult Education Centre, Langa, Cape Town

1990 – 1991  
Art facilitator, CAP (Community Arts Project), Woodstock, Cape Town
Private art classes conducted from my studio in Observatory

1990             
Design Time School of Design, Observatory, Cape Town

Travel & Residencies

2012              
Khajuraho and Dharamkot, India

2002
Tokyo, Japan

1999 & 2000
Namibia

1995              
New York, USA

1988 -1989    
London, UK
West Berlin, Germany
Barcelona, Spain

Illustrations

2017
Book cover, THEN, Nicola Smuts-Allsop, awaiting publication

2016             
Book cover, Fertility Astrology, A Modern Medieval Textbook, NOW, Nicola Smuts – Allsop, The Wessex Astrologer Ltd

1996              
Book cover, Love Themes for the Wilderness, Ashraf Jamal, Kwela Books,

1991 -1995   
Sunday Life Magazine, The Argus, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Millenium, Churchill Murry Publications
History Text Books, Std. 3 and 4, Centaur Publishers, Cape Town.       

Featured Artwork
  • Tracy Payne
    Solar Bi-Pod I

    Soft Pastel and Pigment Powder on Fabriano Rosalina 285g
    21 x 29.7cm
    Signed: “Payne” (Lower/Left)
    Dated: 2022

    Enquire Now
  • Tracy Payne
    Solar Bi-Pod II

    Soft Pastel and Pigment Powder on Fabriano Rosalina 285g
    21 x 29.7cm
    Signed: “Payne” (Lower/Left)
    Dated: 2022

    Enquire Now
  • Tracy Payne
    Solar Bi-Pod III

    Soft Pastel and Pigment Powder on Fabriano Rosalina 285g
    21 x 29.7cm
    Signed: “Payne” (Lower/Left)
    Dated: 2022

    Enquire Now
  • Tracy Payne
    Solar Bi-Pod IV

    Soft Pastel and Pigment Powder on Fabriano Rosalina 285g
    21 x 29.7cm
    Signed: “Payne” (Lower/Left)
    Dated: 2022

    Enquire Now
  • Tracy Payne
    Solar Bi-Pod V

    Soft Pastel and Pigment Powder on Fabriano Rosalina 285g
    21 x 29.7cm
    Signed: “Payne” (Lower/Left)
    Dated: 2022

    Enquire Now
  • Tracy Payne
    Solar Bi-Pod VI

    Soft Pastel and Pigment Powder on Fabriano Rosalina 285g
    21 x 29.7cm
    Signed: “Payne” (Lower/Left)
    Dated: 2022

    Enquire Now
  • Tracy Payne
    Solar Bi-Pod VII

    Soft Pastel and Pigment Powder on Fabriano Rosalina 285g
    21 x 29.7cm
    Signed: “Payne” (Lower/Left)
    Dated: 2022

    Enquire Now
  • Tracy Payne
    Solar Bi-Pod VIII

    Soft Pastel and Pigment Powder on Fabriano Rosalina 285g
    21 x 29.7cm
    Signed: “Payne” (Lower/Left)
    Dated: 2022

    Enquire Now
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