Sandra Thomas
fine artist
Biography
Sandra works in several mediums, allowing for greater experimentation and exploration.
She works from her own photographs and on-site sketches. Embracing the subject, she investigates and reinterprets the image in a way that is different from the traditional portrayal of a purely realistic rendition of the subject. Her work consists of many small focal details as opposed to one obvious single view. In doing this, she plays with the positive and negative impressions of nature.
She is in search of the untouched and finds the untamed Eastern Cape landscapes captivating. She doesn’t deliberately look for subject material but rather journals her travels in the Albany Thickets. Sandra also draws inspiration from her lush garden.
"I want people who cannot reach the uninhabited places that I do, to explore them through my art."
Artist Resume
Born in 1960 in East London, South Africa
Resides and works in Bathurst, South Africa
Education and Training
1978: Matric pass with distinction in art, Cambridge High School,
East London, SA
Headmaster’s Award for Art, Cambridge High School,
East London, SA
1979 - 1980: Fine Art, East London Technical College Art School,
East London, SA
1990: Diploma in Fine Art, East London Technical College Art School,
East London, SA
2005: B. Tech. Degree Cum Laude in Fine Art, Border Technikon,
East London, SA
Awards
1990: Jack Lugg Trophy for Fine Art Student of the Year, East London
Technical College Art School, East London, SA
Group Exhibitions
1981 - 1983: Fine Arts Society Annual Exhibitions, Ann Bryant Gallery,
East London, SA
1984: Round Table, University of Transkei, Umtata, Transkei
1985: Exhibition, City Hall, Umtata, Transkei
1986: Transkei Fine Arts Society, Rotary Room, Umtata, Transkei
1987: African Women Collages, Grass Roots Galley, Durban, SA
1998: Three Woman Art and Soirée, 1820 Settlers Association,
Grahamstown, SA
2000: Collaboration with Bernard Barry, National Arts Festival,
Makhanda, SA
2001: Collaboration with Bernard Barry, National Arts Festival,
Makhanda, SA
‘Erotica’, Thomas Art Consultancy, SA
2005: B. Tech Final, Ann Bryant Gallery, East London, SA
‘Paperworks’, National Arts Festival, Makhanda, SA
2009: Group Exhibition, National Arts Festival, Makhanda, SA
2011: 'Passion Play', Lady Grey, SA
2012: ‘Stock-Art and the Animal’, The Art Business, Piketberg, SA
‘Flesh’, The Art Business, Piketberg, SA
‘African Flame’, D-Street Gallery, Stellenbosch, SA
2015: Exhibition, Floradale Fine Art Gallery, East London, SA
2016: ‘Erotica’, Moór Art Gallery, Franschhoek, SA
2017: Year-long showing, Gallery 91, Somerset West, SA
‘Lushington’, National Arts Festival, Makhanda, SA
2018: Collaboration with Brian Hammond, National Arts Festival,
Makhanda, SA
Exhibition, Floradale Fine Art Gallery, East London, SA
Exhibition, Studio G, Bay Hotel, Camps Bay, SA
Exhibition, Studio at 54, Makhanda, SA
2023: 'Serein', Stilbaai Galery, Stilbaai, SA
2023: 'Peep Show', Ann Bryant Art Gallery, East London, SA
2023: 'FYNbos', Stilbaai Galery, Stilbaai, SA
2023: Four works - Birth, Castle Rock, Evening Fireflies and
Passages, The Gallery at Grande Provence, Franschhoek, SA
Solo Exhibitions
1998: Retrospective Exhibition and Opening, CVD Gallery (owner),
East London, SA
1988 - 2010: Exhibited in own gallery, East London, SA
2008: ‘Hidden Places’, Latimer Hall, East London Museum,
East London, SA
2012: ‘Country Life’, Lady Grey Arts Academy, Lady Grey, SA
2013: Sandra Thomas, Belgravia Art Centre, East London, SA
Sandra Thomas, Ann Bryant Gallery, East London, SA
2014: ‘Colours of Drought’, Gallery on Leviseur, Bloemfontein, SA
2016 to date: Exhibits in own gallery, Just Off Centre, Bathurst, SA
2019: ‘Walk With Me I‘, Carinus Art Centre, National Arts
Festival, Makhanda, SA
‘In And Around’, Floradale Fine Art Gallery, East London, SA
2020: ‘Passages’, Carinus Art Centre, National Arts Festival
Online
2021: ‘Walk With Me II’, Carinus Art Centre, National Arts
Festival, Makhanda, SA
2022: ‘Walk With Me III’, Carinus Art Centre, National Arts
Festival, Makhanda, SA
2023: 'My Sanctuary', Carinus Art Centre, National Arts
Festival, Makhanda, SA
Commissions and Special Projects
1986: Mural 8m x 2m, Anglo American & De Beers, Transkei, SA
Two collage paintings, In-Service College, Umtata, Tranksei
Ethnic collage paintings, University of Transkei, Umtata,
Transkei
1988: Christmas card, SA Embassy, Umtata, Transkei
1988 - 1989: Design and development of beading and textiles,
Mzamba Craft Village (Transkei Small Industry Development
Organization), Umtata, Transkei
1988: Commissioned by Transido. Stand designs for Manpower
Careers Exhibition. Transkei Forest and Industry and Ohlssons
Breweries. Trade Exhibition, City Hall, Umtata, Transkei
Commissioned by Transdio. Stand designs for Langeni Forest
Products, Saw Mills and Conservation, Agricultural
Exhibition, Showgrounds, Umtata, Transkei
1989: 4 x children’s dining room murals, 2m x 1.8m, Umngazi River
Bungalows, Port St John’s, Transkei
Goat character for Keep Transkei Beautiful Campaign, Transkei
Development Corporation, Umtata, Transkei
Crested Crane logo design, Transkei Wildlife Society, Umtata,
Transkei
Centenary T-shirt design, Umtata High School, Umtata,
Transkei
1992 - 1994: Cover art for a new range of CDs, Barkrose, SA
1994: Four etchings, Selborne College Heritage Foundation,
East London, SA
1995: Badge design, Rotary International, SA
1997 - 2000: 26 oil paintings for nine stores, Juicy Lucy stores, Natal,
Western and Eastern Cape, SA
1999: Large painting for the boardroom, Department of Tourism,
Bhisho, SA
2000-2011: Eastern Cape landscape paintings and drawings. Various
private collectors from Australia, Belgium, Germany, Great
Britain, Spain, Canada, USA, The Netherlands and South
Africa, own gallery: CVD Art Gallery, East London, SA
2006: Logo design, Guild of Needle Workers, East London, SA
2008: Two paintings, ‘Waterboys’ and ‘Sweeties’ to represent
East London, SA in Leiden (sister city), Netherlands
2009: Two oil paintings, SA Department of Arts and Culture for
World Focus 1325
'Angels' painting for Clarendon High School For Girls,
East London, SA
2010: Eastern Cape Aloe Ferox painting for Transkei Tourism
Boardroom, Bisho, Tranksei
Mosaic and beaded columns for the foyer of the Bisho
Legislature, Bisho, SA
2011: Two Eastern Cape landscape paintings for reception
lounge, Bhisho Legislature, Bhisho, SA
2018: Mural for Fritz Teroerde, Germany, for residence in
Kleinemonde, SA
2019: ‘Wagon Tracks Through Bathurst’, Emma Cooper Design,
Makhanda, SA