Bio.

Elize de Beer is a visual artist based in Cork, Ireland, working from her studio at Sample-Studios. 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. As a visual artist that uses printmaking, books and sculpture, she belongs to the printmaking collective “The Printing Girls”,“Press.On” and is a member of Cork Printmakers. De Beer works as an arts facilitator alongside her artistic practice and is part of Sample-Studios The Cork Creative Careers Programme. She has been part of numerous group exhibitions nationally and internationally, with two recent solo exhibitions in Cork and Belfast. She also has artworks in both private and institutional collections. Her practice has been supported with awards from the Arts Council and Cork County Council. De Beer has an upcoming solo exhibition at Cork Printmakers in Cork City, entitled Arctic Archive, opening in October 2024.

Artist Statement.

Since the start of her artistic practice de Beer has strongly been influenced by her dyslexia. Within her expanded print practice, de Beer’s dyslexia became her methodology for creating abstract, conceptual and text based artworks. It is through trying to understand her relationship and fascination with written language that the objectivity of books and their power became a focal point in her practice. Through print, artist books and sculptures she explores the greater concepts and concerns around books, their use and access to knowledge. Further examining public and private library spaces and archiving practices.

Artist CV

EXHIBITIONS

Solo Exhibitions

Selected Group Exhibitions

  • 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

  • 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
  • UCC. Special Collections Library. Cork. Ireland

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.

Internships

  • Brenthurt Library. 2019 and 2021.
  • DK Conservators. 2018.
  • David Krut Projects. 2014.
  • Warren Editions. 2015.

COLLECTIVES AND ORGANISATIONS

  • The Printing Girls since 2020
  • Cork Printmakers since 2022
  • Sample Studios since 2022
  • Press. On since 2023

Podcast

The Chopped Liver Podcast

WORK EXPERIENCE

  • Framer
  • Printmaking Facilitator 
  • Curator and Gallerist
  • Arts Facilitator
  • Bookbinder and Book Restore
  • Studio Manager

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

  • Sample Studios Educational Program, Creative Careers Panelist,  2023 and 2024. Workshop Facilitator
  • Test Site, 2022. Workshop Facilitator
  • Cork Zine Fest, 2022 – 2024. Coordinator and Workshop Facilitator
  • STAMP Festival, 2022 and 2023. Workshop Facilitator
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