About + CV

Bio. – Elize de Beer

my studio space at Sample-Studios

Elize de Beer is a South African 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 printmaker, book artist and sculptor, she belongs to the printmaking collective “The Printing Girls” in South Africa, “Press.On” and is a member of Cork Printmakers.  She has been part of numerous group exhibitions internationally and has artworks in both private and institutional collections.

Alongside my artistic practice, I am also a collaborative bookbinder and owner of Bookward Bound Bindery. I work with various creatives, authors and artists to create one-off and short-run publications using traditional bookbinding techniques within a contemporary framework.

As a way to add a new perspective to the creative discourse within South Africa and the contemporary creative world, myself and co-host Amé Bell, founded the Chopped Liver Appreciation Society and the Chopped Liver Podcast. A platform supporting creatives and innovators following unconventional career paths in various creative industries. 

Artist Statement

Elize de Beer is an artist and bookbinder based in Ireland,  working from her studio in Sample Studios, Cork. 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 of knowledge. Further examining  public and private library spaces and archiving practices.

In her current body of work de Beer is exploring the aesthetics and concepts around libraries and archives. Conceptually examining her desire to continuously consume knowledge as a form of self-protection to alleviate anxieties. In her work, she is particularly examining her own library collection acting as a pseudo-librarian. Through this body of work nature, she is always trying to bridge the gap between visual art and the craft of bookbinding. One method is using bookbinding waste material in the art-making process.  These waste elements are then translated through the mediums of artist books, pop-up books and printmaking; mainly etchings, collagraphs and letterpress. Within her art-making process, she aims to use these materials and other visual signifiers of bookmaking to investigate the physicality of a book and the knowledge they hold.

Artist CV

EXHIBITIONS

Solo Exhibitions

  • The Books We Haven’t Read. 2024. LHQ Gallery, Cork County Library. Cork, Ireland
  • Orthography In Disregard. 2024. QSS. Gallery 2. Belfast. Northern Ireland, UK

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.
  • A Kind of Blue, 2019, David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa.
  • The Cat Show, 2018, David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa.
  • Authentic Marks, 2018, Shaghaf Group, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
  • A Piece of Work, 2017, David Krut Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa.
  • Re(union), 2017, Art.b, Cape Town, South Africa.
  • Bona Fides, 2016, Jan Royce Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa.

Residency

Studio 12 Project Residency, 2024, As Part of the Print Collective. Backwater Artist 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

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

EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

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