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Hodgins, Robert

Born: 1920 Dulwich, London, England
Resided in SA from 1953, visited SA in 1938

A painter and graphic artist of figures and urban life.  Works in oil, acrylic, tempera and in various graphic media.  Since 1959 a series entitled “UBU, variations on Alfred Jarry’s character”.

Studies: 1947-50 part time, 1950-53 full time at the Goldsmith’s College of Art, University of London, gaining a National Diploma in Design (Painting).

Profile: 1940-45 served in the armed forces in Egypt.  1954-62 taught painting and drawing at the Pretoria Technical College; 1962-66 a journalist, art critic and then Assistant Editor of Newscheck.  1966-83 a lecturer, then a senior lecturer in the Department of Fine Art, University of Witwatersrand. 

Exhibitions: He has participated in numerous group exhibitions from the early 1950s in SA; 1955 Lidchi Gallery, Johannesburg, first of over 20 solo exhibitions; 1960 Quadrennial Exhibition; 1961 Gallery 101, Johannesburg, joint exhibition with Ernst de Jong; from 1970 several joint exhibitions with Jan Neethling; 1979 Cape Town Biennial; 1984-85 Four Johannesburg Painters, a touring exhibition with Ilona Anderson, Ricky Burnett and Jo Smail; 1985 Tributaries, touring SA and West Germany; 1985 Cape Town Triennial; 1986 Grahamstown Festival, “Images 1953-86”, Retrospective Exhibition, touring SA; 1987 “Hogarth Series”, joint exhibition with Deborah Bell and William Kentridge, touring SA; 1987 and 1988 Johannesburg Art Gallery, Vita Art Now.

Awards: 1955 Transvaal Art of Today Best Young Artist Award, Pretoria Centenary Exhibition; 1986 Vita Quarterly Award Winner; 1987 Vita Annual Award Winner.   

Represented: Johannesburg Art Gallery; Pretoria Art Museum; SA National Gallery, Cape Town; University of South Africa; University of the Witwatersrand; William Humphreys Art Gallery, Kimberley.

References: SAA; SAP&S; BSAK 1; AASA; Artlook January 1973; Habitat no 5, 1973; De Arte September 1984; De Kat June 1986.

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