Alta Botha (b. 1955) is a Cape Town-based independent artist who exhibits locally and internationally. She holds a B degree in Visual Arts (awarded Visual Arts Prize, Unisa, 2005) and an MA in Fine Arts (with distinction, Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, 2014).
With her current work, Botha explores the possibilities of contemporary drawing employing process-driven methodologies. Using paper and found and activated charcoal as primary materials, she works towards transforming the materiality of substances and surfaces through reductive and ‘abusive’ procedures.
Dematerialising actions of erosion and perforation – the scraping and sanding of paper, and the burning of wood to charcoal – are counterbalanced by processes of retrieval and reconstruction, like the sewing together and dressing of torn surfaces. Her acts of reparation recall an earlier career in nursing – her hand-stitching, as a mark and a conveyor of meaning, is linked to care.
Botha considers drawing as complex filtering between inner and outer processes – between deep structures of thought and their manifestation into action as surface structure. The incremental unfolding between processes of conscious and unconscious awareness is central to the transformations she works towards.
Solo exhibitions include between (2020), fore/after (2017), fragile equilibriums (2014), Odd objects (2008), and Angle of repose (2006).
EXHIBITIONS
2023 – Cape Winelands (South Africa), Glen Carlou Gallery – Artwords (group)
2022 – Stellenbosch (South Africa), Equus Gallery – Days of being wild (group)
2021 – Cape Winelands (South Africa), Glen Carlou Gallery – PAPER (group)
2021 – Midrand, Gauteng (South Africa) – Inaugural Launch of edg2020 Gallery
2020 – 2021 – Cape Town (South Africa), MOCAA – Home Is Where The Art Is (group)
2020 – Pretoria (South Africa), edg2020 Gallery, Online exhibition – between
2019 – Bloemfontein (South Africa), Eufees Gallery – dwell in possibility (group)
2019 – Cape Town (South Africa), Barnard Gallery – nano 1.3 (group)
2019 – Cape Town (South Africa), Kunskamer – Summer exhibition (group)
2018 – Oudtshoorn (South Africa), KKNK Festival – Vuurdans (group)
2018 – Knysna (South Africa), Knysna Art Gallery – Vuurdans (group)
2018 – Franschhoek (South Africa), Is Art Gallery – Yarn (group)
2017 – Hermanus (South Africa), Abalone Gallery – fore/after
2017 – Hermanus (South Africa), Abalone Gallery – FynArts Festival (group)
2016 – Brooklyn (New York), Pratt Institute – Imago Mundi, Map of the New Art (group)
2016 – Hermanus (South Africa), Abalone Gallery – FynArts Festival (group)
2015 – Venice (Italy), Fondazione Giorgio Cini – Imago Mundi, Map of the New Art (group)
2015 – Creekside (London), ArtHub Gallery – However (group)
2014 – Stellenbosch (South Africa), Equus Gallery – What lies beneath (group)
2014 – Cape Town (South Africa), Michaelis Galleries – fragile equilibriums
2013 – Cape Town (South Africa), Michaelis Galleries – HereThere (group)
2010 – Stellenbosch University (South Africa), Woordfees – Kladboek (group)
2010 – Cape Town (South Africa), iArt Gallery – The gift of fine art (group)
2010 – Hamburg (Germany) – 152 , Kunst macht Schule gGmbH (group)
2009 – Stellenbosch University (South Africa), Woordfees – (sub)Teks (group)
2008 – Hermanus (South Africa), Abalone Gallery – Odd objects
2006 – Cape Town (South Africa), Association for Visual Arts – Angle of repose
2004 – Durbanville (South Africa), Rust en Vrede Gallery – Artwords (group)
2004 – Durbanville (South Africa), Rust en Vrede Gallery – Seven deadly sins (group)
2004 – Bellville (South Africa), Art.b Gallery – Angle of repose
2003 – Durbanville (South Africa), Rust en Vrede Gallery – Self-portrait (group)
2003 – Durbanville (South Africa), Rust en Vrede Gallery – Trilogy (group)
2003 – Durbanville (South Africa), Rust en Vrede Gallery – Flowers and vases (group)
2002 – Rome (Italy), Temple of Hadrian – Memories of Hadrian (group)
2002 – Durbanville (South Africa), Rust en Vrede Gallery – Summer salon (group)
2001 – Bellville (South Africa), Art.b Gallery – Vuleka (group) Awarded Best Graphic Work
2001 – Bellville (South Africa), Art.b Gallery – Crisp (group)