Anita Malan, multi-disciplinary artist

I am a full-time artist doing ceramics, etching and mosaic work. My studio is at home in Somerset West, situated between the Helderberg mountains and False Bay in the beautiful Cape.

I studied art at the Free State Technicon where I received my diploma and my higher diploma in Ceramic Design. Whilst studying for my higher diploma, I was offered the opportunity to teach at the Technicon in the ceramic science department.

After my studies, I moved to George where I first worked as a graphic artist in a print shop but decided after a year, to work from home as a ceramic artist. Later I got the chance to create some artwork for a restaurant franchise, where I had to do silkscreened tiles as well as decorative plates and jugs.

Ceramics; Anita; Malan; Artist; Ceramicist; Printmaker; Mosaic work;

After 5 years I moved to Port Elizabeth where I accepted a position to teach ceramic design at the Technicon and Russel Road College. My studies in silkscreen processes on clay, led to me opening a small business. I created prints for bespoke bathroom and kitchen tiles for clients, combined with mosaic work. My knowledge of ceramic glazes enabled me to give the clients coloured tiles that were not available in normal tile shops. I bought unglazed tiles from the tile factory and glazed them using the unique colours the clients wanted. There were so many offcuts which eventually led to starting the mosaic work.

In 2010 I opened a shop in Stellenbosch where I stocked products bought in Nepal and Bangkok. The shop was perfectly poised to exhibit and sell my ceramic work.

During the years I also participated in various solo and group exhibitions and am always looking for more opportunities to collaborate with Art Galleries in South Africa.

Exhibitions

  • One-man exhibition 1986, Arts Association Bloemfontein
  • Numerous group exhibitions
  • Ceramic Arts Association exhibition, Port Elizabeth
  • East Cape Regional Exhibition, Port Elizabeth 1997
  • Ceramic Association Exhibition, Johannesburg 1999
  • Ceramics South Africa exhibitions 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
  • War Museum 150-year celebration, Bloemfontein 2013
  • Ceramics South Africa regional exhibition, Cape Town 2017

Awards

  • East Cape Regional exhibition, won Open Category Merit Award
  • Ceramic Association Exhibition, won Merit award
  • Ceramics South Africa Regional Exhibition, Cape Town 2017. Won 2nd prize in the premium department.

Collections

  • National Museum, Port Elizabeth
  • National War Museum, Bloemfontein