BIOGRAPHY
Lucy Cobern was born in Cape Town in 1978, she matriculated 1996. Lucy Studied Fine Art at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, graduating with distinction in painting in 2001. In 2003 Lucy went on to achieve her Masters in painting at Rhodes University, followed by a Post Graduate certificate in Education from Rhodes University and a few years later a Diploma in Business Administration and Management from Damelin in Cape Town. Lucy has won a variety of art bursaries, scholarships and awards, the most recent being the Anne Lee Trophy for Best Drawing at the 114th Annual SASA Exhibition in 2021.
Lucy’s work experience has included an internship at the South African National Gallery in Cape Town. She has travelled overseas to be a Gallery attendant at at the Tate Modern, Tate Britain and The Royal Academy of Arts in London. Her teaching experience found her teaching Art at Johan Carinus Art Centre in Grahamstown, and a 7 year art teaching post at Weterford High School.
In the past Lucy has looked to the emotive colour field paintings of Mark Rothko, the seductively blurred photo realist paintings of Gerhard Richter, and the beautifully contrasted greys of charcoal drawings by William Kentridge for influences.
Lucy Cobern is married with two children; she runs her own art school from home, in Cape Town, where she teaches art classes to children and adults. In between class, home life and being mum, she finds time to create some art.
CV
1996 Matric Exemption: Sans Souci Girls High School Newlands, CT
2001 BFA in painting obtained at Rhodes University, Grahamstown
2003 MFA in painting obtained at Rhodes University, Grahamstown
2004 PGCE at Rhodes University, Grahamstown
2011 Business Administration and Management obtained at Damelin
Prizes/Awards/Bursaries
1996 – 2021 Variety of art related awards won over the years, for painting, drawing and academic excellence.
Exhibitions
2001 Solo Exhibition, National Arts Festival Grahamstown, RSA
2002 Masters Exhibition, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, RSA
2002 Absa L’Atelier Exhibition, Group Exhibition, Johannesburg, RSA
2003 Absa L’Atelier Exhibition, Group Exhibition, Johannesburg, RSA
2003 Past Presidents and Other Things, Solo Exhibition, NAF, GMT
2005 AVA Solo Exhibition, Cape Town, RSA
2005 Paperworks, Group Exhibition, National Arts Festival,GMT RSA
2011 Intimate Spaces, Solo Exhibition, National Arts Festival, GMT,
2017 Winter Life, Group Exhibition, The Studio Art Gallery Imhoff
2017 SASA 111th Annual Exhibition, Kirstenbosch, RSA
2017 SASA Members two Exhibition, Kirstenbosch, RSA
2018 SASA Merit Exhibition, Kirstenbosch, RSA
2018 SASA Members 1 Exhibition, Kirstenbosch, RSA
2018 SASA 112th Annual Exhibition, Kirstenbosch, RSA
2019 SASA Members 1 Exhibition, Kirstenbosch, RSA
2020 SASA Members two Exhibition, Kirstenbosch, RSA
2021 SASA 114th Annual Exhibition, Kirstenbosch, RSA
2021 Selected Cape Artists Exhibition, Kirstenbosch, RSA
2022 SASA Merit Exhibition, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, RSA
2022 The Studio Block art group exhibition, Harbour Bay, RSA
2022 Out the Box. Group exhibition Noordehoek Art point, RSA
2022 SASA 115th Annual Exhibition, Kirstenbosch, RSA
2023 Out the Box. Group exhibition Noordehoek Art point, RSA
2024 Quintessence: 5 artists Group Exhibition at Art.b Belville, RSA
STATEMENT
Beautiful late afternoon light in the garden, strong contrasts and dark shadows, Peaceful organic shapes that resonates harmony with nature and speaks to my soul. I love Euphorbia and Aloes, I love the Karoo and the Northern Cape. My art reflects my interests and my passions. Being creative is who I am; it completes me, it makes me whole. It balances out the crazy world around me and quietens the voices in my head. These drawings were created from a place of peace, they calm me, drive me crazy, but they give me purpose and meaning at the same time. I like a challenge and I can get lost in the details. There is so much beauty to fall in love with. I want to spend my days trying to capture such moments.
