FIONA KIRKWOOD

Born

Scotland 1949.

I am a South African by descent and have lived in South Africa since 1975.

Education

1967-1971:  Diploma of Art, Glasgow School of Art, Scotland.

1971-1972:  Certificate of Secondary Education, Moray House College, Edinburgh, Scotland.

1980-1983:  Master of Fine Arts (Fibre Sculpture), University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

Media, Themes and Exhibitions

My works consists of textiles and mixed media in the form of sculptures and installations involving social, political, environmental and HIV/AIDS themes.  

I have held 37 group and 12 solo exhibitions in South Africa and internationally, including Scotland, India, Poland, Venezuela, Brazil, Lithuania, Australia and Canada.

Solo Exhibitions since 2000

2000    13th International World AIDS Conference - Installation, “Pandemic Patient,” Durban Art Gallery, Durban, South Africa.

2001    Coats and Coverings” - K.Z.N.S.A. Gallery, Durban, South Africa.

2002    Invited artist: “Coats and Coverings” – The Monument, Grahamstown Art Festival, Grahamstown, South Africa.

2003    Invited Artist: “Coats and Coverings”- Standard Bank Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Main Group Exhibitions since 2000

2000    “Transgressions?” Human Rights and Globalization Conference, Panchgani, India.

2003/4 “Artists’ Action around HIV/AIDS” – Durban Art Gallery; The Africa Centre – Mtubatuba; Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

2004    “Waste Art” – Sandton Square Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa.

2004    11th International Triennial of Tapestry, Central Museum of Textiles, Lodz, Poland.

2004/5 “Tangencya” – Installation “Survival” – The Workshop Shopping Complex, Durban, South Africa.

2004    “Women in Textile Art Biennial” Museum of Culture, Valencia, Venezuela.

2005    “Object of Affection: Stolen”,  The Goethe Institute, Salvador/ Bahia, Brazil [travelling internationally].

2005    “Survival Billboard” Maydon Wharf Road, Durban,  South Africa ‘Break the Silence’ HIV/AIDS Billboard campaign, Artists’ for Humanity, sponsored by the National Lottery.

2005    5th International - Kaunas Art Biennial--Textile 05,  Kaunas, Lithuania.

2006     Major Minors 11, Australian Quilt Convention, Melbourne, Australia.

2006    Tangencya 2   “The Washing Line” Installation, TheWorkshop Shopping Centre, Durban, South Africa.

2006    16th International AIDS Conference, Toronto, Canada-----Installations----“Survival” and “The Washing Line”.

2006    “The Washing Line Installation 2”  Jabulisa, The Art and Craft of Kwa Zulu Natal, Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg (travelling exhibition in South Africa).

Awards

1997    Merit award winner: ‘Vita Craft Now’, African Window Museum    Pretoria, South Africa.

2002    Cultural exchange award to Copenhagen, Denmark.

2005    First Prize Winner in category of “Place”, 5th Kaunas Art Biennial Textile‘05, Kaunas, Lithuania.

Collections

My works are to be found in private collections in Scotland, the United States, Poland, Denmark and South Africa.  Commissioned work is in public buildings in Scotland and South Africa.  

My works are also in public collections at the Durban Art Gallery; Durban University of Technology; Anglo American Corporation, Johannesburg; Department of National Education, Johannesburg; Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg; Central Museum of Textiles, Lodz, Poland.      

Lectured

 1975-76   Part-Time Lecturer in Weaving, Crafts and Basic Design, Department of Fine Art, Technikon Natal, Durban.               

Part-Time Lecturer in Weaving,  M.L.Sultan Technikon, Durban

1977-83   Junior Lecturer in Art Education, University of Durban-Westville, Durban.

1980-83   Head of Department of Art Education, University of  Durban-Westville, Durban.

1983-4     Part-Time Lecturer in Three-Dimensional Perceptual Studies, Department of Fine Art, Technikon Natal, Durban.

1985-6     Part-Time Lecturer in Fibre Art and Weaving, Department of Fine Art, Technikon Natal, Durban.

1983-96   Part-Time Lecturer in Drawing and Painting, Advanced Drawing and Painting, Basic Design, Figure Drawing, Colour, Weaving and Creative Embroidery, University of Natal, Unit For Continuing Education, Durban.

1985-90   Have Run Various Workshops throughout South Africa on Drawing and Painting, Design, and Life Drawing, including at Valley Trust, Bothas Hill with Zulu Bead Workers and Doll Makers.

1990 - 2002  Part-Time Lecturer in the Department of Fashion Design, Technikon Natal, Durban.

1995- Present  The Fiona Kirkwood Art Studio, Durban. Teaching Drawing, Life Drawing and Painting.

2002- 2005   Part-Time Lecturer in 3rd Year Drawing, Department of Fine Art, Durban Institute of Technology, Durban.