OMNIUM GATHERUM by Michael Tietz-Geldenhuys

4th of February to the 16th of March 2021

An eclectic collection of artworks by Michael Tietz-Geldenhuys.

Working with oils, charcoal and pastel, volume and weight of form is subtly revealed through the interplay of light and dark. Still life objects, figures and faces emerge in a gathering of passing moments. Through still life, portraiture and the nude, Omnium Gatherumexplores the beautiful and imperfect, as a site of intimacy and vulnerability. The human form, visage and objects are fondly familiar and yet, as in life, each is extraordinarily unique.

Michael’s method is reminiscent of classical realism of the Renaissance era which he discovered through the academic atelier tradition in Florence, Italy. These works are a rare find in today’s more contemporary art market.

Ultimately, Omium Gatherum is a celebration of art, a gathering of works, each precious and distinctive in itself.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Michael Tietz-Geldenhuys currently lives and works in Cape Town and continues to focus on painting and drawing with an emphasis on classical realism in portraiture, figurative and still life subjects and abstraction.

Born in Durban South Africa in 1976: Michael obtained a Degree in Fine Art at the University of Technology in 1999 majoring in painting and photography.

After studying Michael spent three years in Mozambique, focusing on photography, culminating in a successful photographic exhibition at DIT Art Gallery in 2003.

While traveling in 2002, Michael discovered the academic atelier tradition in Florence, Italy. He returned the following year to attend a course of figure portrait cast drawing, anatomy and art history at the Florence Academy od Art. Michael returned to Florence again in 2014 to complete a painting course focusing on classical realism, sight-size, portrait, figurative and chiaroscuro method of painting.

In 2017 and 2015 Michael was selected as one of the top 100 in the Sanlam Portrait Awards

Michael currently teaches representation (free hand drawing) and also life drawing sessions with models, at the University of Cape Town’s School of Architecture. In addition, he co-ordinates and hosts art workshops and figure drawing sessions at Observatory Art and the Italian Art Shop. In previous years he has worked at various art galleries in Cape Town and Stellenbosch.

Since 1997 to present, Michael has taken part in more than thirty-two group and solo exhibitions, in South Africa and Internationally; and has also won prestigious awards and has been featured in art publications. Omnium Gatherum will be Michael’s fourth solo exhibition at Ground Art Caffe

HIGHLIGHTS: Exhibitions, Publications & Awards

2020

Art is Art Gallery: Ongoing gallery representation

Rust en Vrede Gallery: Boys Don’t Cry group exhibition

The Ladder Cape Town: Artists in Isolation group exhibition

SA Artists Magazine: Article: Creating Atmosphere

2019

Rust en Vrede Gallery: The Grand group exhibition

Pop-Up Place: Adam group exhibition

2018

Art.B. Gallery: #Paper group exhibition

Rust en Vrede Gallery: The Truth About Rabbits group exhibition