Rachelle Bomberg was born in London. She is the niece of renowned British artist, David Bomberg and protégé of the late Taubie Kushlik. Rachelle studied to receive a BA in Fine Art from the Johannesburg College of Art before moving to Cape Town in 1976. She also trained, and danced with Jazzart.
Rachelle has been exhibited in SA, Britain, US, and Thr Netherlands from 1976 to present. Her international success consists of 24 solo shows, 47 group shows and works held in private, corporate and public collections worldwide. Her first retrospective exhibition was held at Primart Gallery In 1994. A second retrospective was held at the Sasol Art Museum in 2012.
Rachelle’s dramatic, monumental paintings are powerfully imagined in the classical aesthetic of artists such as Turner and Rembrandt.
Her current viewpoint has shifted in focus from the large, symbolic figurative compositions of the early years to massive primordial landscapes, epic tempestuous pieces of an earth transfigured by fire, ice, or the restless sea.
Access to modern pigment has aided her to find a method of rich luminous layering, where the light and drama of her surface radiates. There is no doubt that these layers of pure pigment - finely held together by her medium and built from a white ground elicit radiance.
Having trained and danced with Jazzart, Rachelle’s passion for movement has not wavered. She works on large scale canvasses, relishing the opportunity for free, poetic movement while she paints.
At the opening of 'Overview', a retrospective exhibition at the Sasol Art Museum, Melvyn Minnaar spoke of the “unyielding introspection about her way with art”. To view one of Rachelle’s artworks is to witness a dance, but not just any dance. It is a manifestation of the artist’s inner being and spiritual thoughts; to witness energy in a ceaseless state of ebb and flow, surrounding and immersing the viewer in ever-changing visions so alluring one feels compelled to reach out and touch them before they are dissolved and reimagined.
EXHIBITIONS
Present
Represented by The Gagliardi Gallery, London
Permanent exhibition at Windermere House
Work on display at Sembach Gallery, Hout Bay
Work on display at The Cape Gallery, Cape Town
2017
Dream now, dream not, the annual Winter Solstice Exhibition, The Cape Gallery
2016
Current, a solo exhibition, The Cape Gallery, Cape Town
2013
Emunah Art Exhibition, Cape Town
2012
'Overview' of 30 years – a retrospective at the Sasol Art Museum, Stellenbosch
2010
Group exhibition, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town
Solo exhibition, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town
2009
Group exhibition, Artists' Gallery, Simon’s Town
2005
Group exhibition, Cape Town Arts Festival , Artscape, Cape Town
2003
Solo exhibition, Conference Centre, San Diego, USA
2002
Solo exhibition, Obernier Gallery, San Diego, USA
2001-2
Group exhibition, Grosvenor Galleries, Cape Town
2000
Solo exhibition, Rust en Vreugd Gallery, Cape Town
Solo exhibition, The Cape Gallery, Cape Town
1999
Solo exhibition, Nico Malan Opera House, Cape Town
Group exhibition, 3rd i Gallery, Cape Town
1998
Group exhibition, Everard Read Gallery, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Leiden Art Festival, Netherlands
1997
Solo exhibition, Primart Gallery, Cape Town
1996
Group exhibition, Albow Centre, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Christies of Constantia, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Rust en Vreugd Gallery, Cape Town
1995
Group exhibition, PJ Oliver art Centre, Stellenbosch
Group exhibition, Primart Gallery, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Annual Festival of Arts, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Seeff Art Gallery, Cape Town
1994
Solo exhibition, Primart Gallery, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Seeff Art Gallery, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Mt Nelson Hotel, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Mental Health Association, Cape Town
1993
Group exhibition, Salon, Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Seeff Art Gallery, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Natale Labia Museum, Cape Town
1992
Group exhibition, Daljosafat Art Foundation, Paarl
Group exhibition, Desre Resnick Art Gallery, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Primart Gallery, Cape Town
Solo exhibition, The Ben Uri Art Gallery, London
Group exhibition, Cape town Festival, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Desre Resnick Art Gallery, Cape Town
1991
Group exhibition, Contemporary Art SA, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Gallery 709, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Primart Gallery, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Chelsea Gallery, Cape Town
1990
Group exhibition, Art Fair Waterfront, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Gallery 709, Cape Town
Solo exhibition, Chelsea Art Gallery, Cape Town
1989
Group exhibition, International Art Consultants, London
Solo exhibition, Primart Gallery, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Ben Uri Art Gallery, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Durbanville Cultural Centre, Cape Town
1988
Group exhibition, African Red Cross, Cape Town
Group exhibition, President Hotel, Cape Town
1987
Solo exhibition, SA Association of Arts, Cape Town
1986
Group exhibition, Gallery International, Cape Town
1984
Group exhibition, Nico Malan Theatre, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg
1983
Solo exhibition, Gowlett Gallery, Cape Town
Group exhibition, Gallery 709, Cape Town
1982
Solo exhibition, Gowlett Gallery, Cape Town
Group exhibition, SA Association of Arts, Cape Town
1981
Solo exhibition, Yellow Door, Cape Town
Solo exhibition, Lidchi Art Gallery, Johannesburg
1980
Charity exhibition, SA Association of Arts, Cape Town
Critic’s choice, SA Association of Arts, Cape Town
1979
SA Biennial, SA National Gallery, Cape Town
Solo exhibition, SA Association of Arts, Cape Town
Solo exhibition, Lidchi Art Gallery, Johannesburg
COLLECTIONS
Mercedes Benz Finance Ltd., Orchard Solicitors, Mase Westpack, Nidus Ltd., London
Takashimaya, Japan
Sanlam, Woltru, Foschini, SA Railways, former ANC Premier Gauteng, Tokyo Sexwale, Oliewenhuis Art Museum (Bloemfontein), Sasol Museum (Stellenbosch), South Africa
Milton Keynes General Hospital NHS - Public Trust Collection |
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Rachelle Bomberg photographed with Spring Tide (Photo by Michaela Irving)
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