Please note: Kathryn Smith's installation runs concurrently with The art of Marc Glaser. Please see our News tab for details

The Dream of Rosita

The art of Marc Glaser (1936 – 2007)

14 July – 4 August 2012

Please join us for the opening on Saturday 14 July at 14:00

Opening address by Prof Francis Faller (Wits School of Education)

Preview by appointment


Exhibition catalogue available

Reading evening Thursday 19 July at 18:00

Bronwyn Law-Viljoen will read from a fictional work-in-progress inspired by the life and work of Marc Glaser

Marc Glaser is a name not familiar to many people in the South African art world. He lived an extremely private life in Johannesburg for most of his adulthood until his death in 2007. He studied Fine Art at the University of the Witwatersrand and the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, but his work did not fit comfortably into the local art scene and he rarely exhibited.
 
He was, however, a prolific artist and his legacy includes close to two thousand etchings, lithographs, linocuts and monotypes printed in his home studio on a small press. His literary output includes at least 28 books of plays, poems and short stories, illustrated by himself and mostly self-published.

His extensive personal library connected him with the art of the world and his own art evinces a strong affinity with surrealism, especially the work of Max Ernst, and that of the Belgian artist, James Ensor. His prints have a fantastical quality about them, often reminding one of fairytale book illustrations or scenes from personal nightmares.

The selection of work on this exhibition attempts to convey something of the remarkable life and mind of Marc Glaser.