Henk Serfontein's paintings have received widespread acclaim and he is one of South Africa's most recognised contemporary artists. He holds a degree in Fine Art (cum laude) and has also studied at the Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris, France. He has lectured art at tertiary level, adjudicated national art competitions and is an accomplished curator of exhibitions.
In 2010 his work was selected as one of 36 finalists for the prestigious international Guasch Coranty Painting Award and exhibition held in Barcelona, Spain. He was also invited in 2011 to become the international resident artist at the Piramidon Centre of Contemporary Art in Barcelona for three months (www.piramidon.com)
Serfontein's symbolic stations of resting and waiting evoke a certain romantic nostalgia, a hopeful intimacy, a place for the traveller to rest his weary bones. Yet they also contain a more sinister dimension. They are places of weariness, heightened suspiciousness, in which the viewer could be both welcomed guest and unwanted intruder. Most importantly you know you are alone here, it is dark and there is silence. Serfontein's paintings ask you to listen inside and expose your soul.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
* 1995 : Henk Serfontein : Winner of The Reginald Turvey Painting Competition. Karen McKerron Art Gallery, Johannesburg
* 1996 : “Labyrinth of Remains” Karen McKerron Art Gallery, Johannesburg
* 1997 : “Labyrinthe de mémoire et mythe. Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France
* 2002 : “Memorabilia” Everard Read Gallery, Cape Town
* 2009 : “Travelling the Margins” Ilse French Fine Art Consultancy, Johannesburg
* 2011 : "Urban Tension" Galeria Alex Telese, Barcelona, Spain.
* 2012 : "Winterslaap" Woordfees Literary Arts Festival, Stellenbosch
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
ABSA Banking Group, GENCOR, SASOL, Rand Merchant Bank, Pretoria Art Museum, Tswane University, British American Tobacco, Webber Wentzel, SPIER, Nando's United Kingdom. Private collections in South Africa, London, New York, Chicago, Berlin, Tokyo, Ireland, Amsterdam and Paris.
AWARDS
* 1992 : Winner of the Dr. I.F. Anderson award for most outstanding final year student, Tswane University.
* Presented with Silver Rectors Medal for outstanding academic achievement, Tswane University.
* 1994 : Merit Award, ABSA Atelier Art Competition. Winner of The Reginald Turvey Painting Competition.
* 1995 : Winner of the SASOL New Signatures Art Competition.
* 1996 : Official representative of South Africa at the Sixth International Cairo Biennale, Egypt with fellow artists Trevor Makhoba, Keith Dietrich and Gordon Froud.
* 2010: Finalist in the International Guasch Coranty Painting Award, Barcelona, Spain.
* 2011: Official invited resident artist at the Piramidon Centre of Contemporary Art, Barcelona Spain.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Henk Serfontein has exhibited regularly and widely since 1995 and his work has been curated on exhibitions Locally and Internationally.
