The Artist
Sue Kafka-Ellis  
   


Jane Mary Sue Kafka-Ellis


   
 

was born 1941 in Salisbury, Rhodesia (Harare,Zimbabwe)

Lives and works in Cottenham, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Comment:
I make small sculptures of people (often portraits) and abstract forms in clay / wax and carved stone then cast in bronze. I work myself in a little German foundry. Portrait heads; paintings, watercolour and acrylic of simplified landscapes and people. Everything reflects my African roots, my forms are abstracted, tactile, organic.

Commissions and residencies:
2002 Portrait head, Professor Nigel Weiss, private commission
2001 Portrait head, Professor Frank Hahn, private commission
1998 Bronze portrait, Professor Maier-Ewert, private commission

Solo exhibitions:
2002 Haddenham Studios and Gallery, Haddenham.
2002, 2001 Cambridge Open Studio
1997 Civic Centre, Gröbenzell, Bavaria.
1997 Beaconsfield
1995 Café Freiraum, Munich

Group exhibitions:
2002 Jubilee Exhibition, Haddenham Gallery
2002 Corn Exchange, Guildhall, Cambridge
2002 Balsham Manor, Balsham
1999 Sunflower Gallery, Beaconsfield
1999 Civic Centre, Gröbenzell, Bavaria.

Prizes: 1970 Prize for Shelter competition

Press coverage:
2002 Cambridge Evening News, August.
1999 Süddentsche Zeitung, 3 October.

Galleries: Haddenham Studio and Gallery, Haddenham

Qualifications:
1976 Training as Rudolf Steiner Teacher, Munich
1965 Advanced Diploma, Primary Education, Cambridge Institute of Education.
1962 BA, Art, Fine Art and English, University of Cape Town.

Training and work experience:
1965-67 Assistant to Zoë Ellison in her pottery
1964-65 Assistant to Betty Rea at Homerton
1963-72 Courses with Nan Youngman

Teaching experience:
1975/01 Rudolf Steiner School, Munich, Gröbenzell, Kings Langley, Cambridge.
1966/74 Painting, Village Colleges, Impington and Comberton. Hauptschule, Munich.

Professional associations:
Cambridge Open Studios
Buckinghamshire Open Studios

Collections: A number of private collections.

Art skills: Painting, Sculpture, Metalwork, Mosaic, Murals, Woodcarving.

Areas of work:
Exhibiting, Fundraising, Private commissions, Special needs, WorkshopsCommunity arts.
Adult education, Early years education, Primary education, Secondary education,

Influences:
My teachers, Maurice van Essche and Lippy Lipschitz, were expressionists trained in Europe. I was also very much influenced by Matisse, Giacometti, and African sculpture. Betty Rea was also a strong influence. Jim Ede of Kettles Yard, Cambridge, was neighbour, friend and mentor.

     
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