Bio.
Elize de Beer is a visual artist based in Cork, Ireland. Her multidisciplinary practice spans printmaking, books and sculpture and she is a member of Sample-Studios and Cork Printmakers. Her work has been shown internationally and nationally, including recent 2024 solo shows The Books We Haven’t Read, LHQ Gallery, Cork County Library and Orthography In Disregard, QSS Gallery, Belfast She has artworks in both private and institutional collections, including the OPW, Ireland and the University of Cape Town. Alongside her artistic practice de Beer is an arts facilitator and has co-organised Cork Zine since 2022. She graduated from the Michaelis School of Fine Arts at the University of Cape Town, South Africa with a BAFA and an honours in Curatorial Studies. Her practice has been supported with awards from the Arts Council, Creative Ireland and Cork County Council.
Artist Statement.
In her expanded print practice, she questions broader concepts and concerns around written language, the objectivity of books, and archiving, visually exploring abstracted text and manipulated archival materials. To further interrogate the form, materiality, and function of the book, de Beer creates artist books and large-scale immersive pop-up book sculptures. Through these material and visual explorations, she challenges the hierarchies and systems within archives, publishing, and library spaces, particularly in how knowledge is shared and accessed.
Artist CV
EXHIBITIONS
Solo Exhibitions
- Antarctic Archive. October 2024. Cork Printmakers Studio Gallery. Cork, Ireland.
- Archived Waterford. October 2024. Index Gallery, Waterford Library, Waterford, Ireland.
- The Books We Haven’t Read. January 2024. LHQ Gallery, Cork County Library. Cork, Ireland
- Orthography In Disregard. February 2024. QSS. Gallery 2. Belfast. Northern Ireland, UK
Selected Group Exhibitions
- Past, Present, Future Perfect Exhibition. 2024. National Design and Craft Gallery. Kilkenny, Ireland
- Members Summer Exhibition Sample-Studio. 2024. The Lord Mayor’s Pavilion. Cork City, Ireland
- Moveable Type. 2024. Cork Public Library. Cork City, Ireland
- SAMPLELYSIUM. 2024. Elysium Gallery. Swansea, Wales.
- Winter Salon. 2023. Backwater Artist Group. Cork, Ireland.
- Cork Printmakers Christmas Exhibition. 2023. Cork Printmakers. Cork, Ireland
- Halftone Print Fair. 2023. The Library Project. Dublin. Ireland
- Tøn Gallery. 2023. Dublin, Ireland
- Sample-Studios Members Exhibition. 2023. Sample Studios. Lord Majors Pavilion. Cork. Ireland.
- What’s The Word? 2023. David Krut Projects. Johannesburg, South Africa
- Cork Printmakers Members Show. 2023. Lavit Gallery. Cork City, Ireland
- Distro, On Artist Publishing. 2023. Curated by Chloe Maguire. Cavan Arts Festival. Cavan, Ireland.
- Winter Showcase – Tonnta (Waves). 2022. Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre. Skibbereen, Ireland.
- The Printing Girls. 2022. Lithographic Academy of Sweden. Tidaholm, Sweden.
- A Sense of Place. 2022. Latitudes Online and The Printing Girls. Online.
- Sample-Studios Members Exhibition. 2022. Sample-Studios, The Lord Mayor’s Pavilion. Cork, Ireland
- Inscape. 2022. Johannn van Heerden Art Gallery. Pretoria. South Africa
- Summer Open Exhibition. 2022. The Courthouse Gallery & Studios. Ennistymon, Co Clare. Ireland.
- Papertrail. 2022. Lisamore & Accociaste. Johannesburg. South Africa.
- Creature Feature. 2021, David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa.
- The Printing Girls at SA Print Gallery. 2021. SA Print Gallery. Cape Town, South Africa.
- The Printing Girls 2021, 2021, The Art Room, Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Mother Nature in Monotype, 2021, White River Gallery, South Africa
- Amplifica: A Medley of Moods in Miniature, 2021, KKNK, online exhibition, South Africa.
- The Troubled Archive, 2021, The Labyrinth Project, Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Pictures Worth A Thousand Words, 2020, David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Artist Book Exhibition, 2020, The Project Space, Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Authentic Marks, 2020, Shaghaf Group, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Residency
Studio 12 Project Residency, 2024, As Part of the Print Collective. Backwater Artists Group. Cork, Ireland.
Art Fairs
- Turbine Art Fair, 2023, David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Halftone Print Fair. 2022. The Library Project. Dublin, Ireland
- Turbine Art Fair, 2021, Unearthed Project, Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Turbine Art Fair, 2019, David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Collections
- UCC. Special Collections Library. Cork. Ireland
- OPW, Ireland
- University of Cape Town Permanent Collection, Cape Town, South Africa.
- Shaghai Group Permanent Collection, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
- The Project Space Collection, Johannesburg, South Africa.
- The Printing Girls. South Africa
EDUCATION
Studies
- BA in Fine Arts – Majoring in Printmaking and Art Theory. Graduated in 2015 from the University of Cape Town, Michaelis School of Fine Arts.
- BA Honours – Curatorship Specialization Graduated in 2016 from the University of Cape Town, Michaelis School of Fine Arts.
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
- Sample Studios Educational Program, Creative Careers Panelist, 2023 and 2024. Workshop Facilitator
- Cork Zine Fest, 2022 – present. Coordinator and Workshop Facilitator
- STAMP Festival, 2022 and 2023. Workshop Facilitator