JUDY WOODBORNE, ARTIST/PRINTMAKER
PROFILE
Born in Cape Town 1966. She obtained her B.A.F.A from Michaelis School of Fine Art in 1988 and an advanced Diploma in Printmaking awarded with Distinction in 1989. She was awarded her Masters of Fine Arts Degree with Distinction from the University of Cape Town in 1993 with a dissertation entitled Moria, a Eulogy of Folly.
She was the resident artist and administrator of Hard Ground Printmakers' Workshop from 1993 until its closure in 2005. She ran her teaching studio from 2005 –first at Spencer Street Studios, then at The Bijou building in Observatory, Cape Town. Her studio was re-located to her home in Cape Town in 2020, from where she currently works and runs satellite workshops in and around Cape Town. She has travelled and visited many printmaking workshops in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Austria and has travelled as far south as Tierra del Fuego and the Antarctic Peninsula, crossing the infamous Drake's Passage in an icebreaker. Her work has been inspired by trips to Hong Kong and mainland China, where she was part of a group training in Yang Style Tai' Chi Chuan, with Master Ou Rong Ju in Foshan, Guandong Province. She has been to visit the island of Zanzibar and sailed from Cape Town to Namibia by boat. Her love of adventure has taken her into the Himalayas and Indo-Tibet and a road trip through the deserts of the Sahara during a residency at Cafe Tissardmine in Morocco.
Woodborne has spent some time working in various printmaking workshops such as the Grafische Werkstatt im Traklhaus, as well as taking part in collaborative printmaking portfolios with artist/curator Jan Jordaan, working on the Break the Silence HIV Campaign, as well as the Art for Humanity, Woman Artists supporting Childrens' Rights Campaign. Other projects include the Playing Card Portfolio curated by Veerle Rooms, Belgium in collaboration with the Playing Card Museum, Kasterlee, the Body Politic portfolio of colour etchings produced in collaboration with Prof. Teresa Cole, Tulane University, USA.
Woodborne was selected as the ABSA Klein Karroo Kunsfees Festival Artist in 2007. She produced an unusual body of paintings on gold-leaf entitled "The Garden of Eden". She recently curated and published a portfolio of 16 etchings, The Exquisite Corpse, based on the theme of Adam and Eve, in collaboration with 7 participating artists. The portfolio was sponsored by Sanlam, and selected for the Klein Karoo Kunsfees 2009.
Judy worked with Tarot Reader, Joanne Jardine over a four year period to produce her portfolio of Tarot Card Etchings, a series of 22 etchings of the Major Arcana.  She has been invited as a guest curator to the University of Stellenbosch art Festival, the Woordfees, producing unique portfolios of prints for the festival. Her recent works demonstrate am experimental approach to contemporary printmaking, where the multiple is used to create a 3 dimensional sculpture and not an edition as such. She has developed her skill at drypoint engraving, which earned her a honorary mention in the Third International Bienniale of Engraving and Sculpture, Teramo, Italy. Her dedication to drawing and printmaking is expanded in her experimental use of these mediums.
EDUCATION
1988
Obtained B.A.F.A with first class pass in printmaking.
(University of Cape Town)
1989
Completed postgraduate Advanced Diploma in Fine Art,
which was awarded with distinction. (UCT)
1993
Awarded Master of Fine Arts Degree with distinction. (UCT)
AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
• 1987 - Class medal, UCT.
• 1988 - Professional category of the Credits '88 Competition.
• 1988 - Merit award, Rolfes' Impressions Exhibition.
• 1988 - MacIver Scholarship.(UCT).
• 1989 - Katrine Harries Print Cabinet Award.
• 1989 - MacIver Scholarship.(UCT).
• 1989 -  Jules Kramer Music and Fine Arts Grant.(UCT)
• 1990 - Merit Award, Volkskas Atelier Competition.
• 1990 - Swan Young Artists Award.
• 1990 - Jules Kramer and McIver Scholarships
• 1990 - H.S.R.C. Grant.
• 1990 - UCT Research Grant.
• 1991 - MacIver Scholarship.(UCT)
• 1991 - H.S.R.C. Grant.
• 1992 - MacIver Scholarship.(UCT)
• 1992 - Jules Kramer Music and Fine Arts Grant.(UCT)
• 1996 - Foundation for the Creative Arts Grant.
• 2007 - Invited Festival Artist for the Klein Karoo Kunsfees,Oudtshoorn, WC
• 2012 - Awarded a funding grant from the NAC
• 2013 - Awarded a funding grant from the NAC
• 2014 - Awarded a funding grant from the NAC
• 2015 - Invited Festival Artist, Salzburg Summer Festival, Austria
• 2019 - Awarded the S.C. Bes Romania SRL award in the International Biennial of Contemporary Engraving, Romania.
• 2021 – Finalist in the Art on Paper Contest, Barcelona, Spain
• 2023 – Awarded the Celommi Award, Third International Engraving Biennale, Teramo, Italy
RESIDENCIES:
• 1996 Spent three months at the Cite des Artes, Paris, France.
• 2000 Residency at the Graffische Werkstatt im Traklhaus,   Salzburg, Austria
• 2002 Residency at the Graffische Werkstatt im Traklhaus, Salzburg, Austria.
• 2015 Residency at the Salzburg Summer Festival, Austria
• 2019 Residency at Cafe Tissardmine, Morocco
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS:
• The Katrine Harries Print Cabinet, University of Cape Town.
• Johannes Stegman Art Collection, Bloemfontein (O.F.S.)
• Telkom Art Collection
• Human Science Research Centre Collection, Pretoria
• Investec Bank
• Sasol Art Collection.
• Volskas Bank
• Sanlam Corporate Art Collection
• The National Gallery.
• UNISA Art Collection.
• South African Libraries Collection of Artworks.
• The Natal Technikon Art Collection.
• The George VI Art Gallery.
• The Durban Art Gallery.
• The University of Stellenbosch Art Collection.
• Engen Art Collection.
• Muzeum Narodowe W Warszzawie, Poland
• Musee d’art Contemporain of Chamalieres, France
• Grinnel College Permanent Art Collection, Grinnel Iowa, USA
• The Oliewenhuis Art Collection, Bloemfontein.
• The National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution,
• Washington, USA.
• (This acquisition was facilitated by Sue Lipschitz)
• The collection of the Secretary of Parliament (South Africa)
• The World Bank (Collection of Dr. Mamphele Ramphele)
• MOMA Gallery, USA ('Break the Silence' Print Portfolio)
Her works are in many private collections in the U.K., Europe, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, America and South Africa.
PUBLICATIONS:
• The Music Box, a series of eight etchings. Judy Woodborne. 1989.
• The Katrine Harries Print Cabinet Catalogue. 1992.
• Moria, a Eulogy of Folly. A graphic interpretation of aspects of the nature of Carnival.1993.
• Day and Night, a series of etchings. Judy Woodborne. 1994.
• The Body Politic, a series of colour etchings by Woman Printmakers. Published and curated by Judy Woodborne (South Africa) and Prof Teresa Cole (USA). 1996/7.
• The Levee, a portfolio of prints by 29 International Artists. Curated by Peter Calvert, Quebec, Canada. 1997.
• 'Break the Silence', International Aids Portfolio, curated by Jan Jordaan, Durban Technikon. 2002
• 'Art for Humanity', portfolio of graphic works by woman artists (for childrens' rights), curated by Jan Jordaan, Durban Technikon. 2006
• 'Playing Card Portfolio', curated by Veerle Rooms in collaboration with the Frans Masareel Centre. 2000.
• "Exquisite Corpse", a portfolio of 16 etchings by 8 artists, Judy Woodborne, Julia Teale, Eunice Geustyn, Diane Victor, Theo Kleynhans, Paul Birchall, Chris Diedericks and Richard Kilpert. Curated and published by Judy Woodborne. Sponsored by Sanlam.
• The Tarot Card Portfolio, a series of 22 etchings of the Major Arcana. 2012.
• Print Works, a catalogue of selected etchings by Judy Woodborne. (November 2012)
• The Endless Horizon, a portfolio of 10 works presented at the Woordfees, University of Stellenbosch. 2018
• Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, a unique portfolio of prints presented at the Woordfees, University of Stellenbosch, 2019
SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
2024
Digital/Analogue – new perspectives on Contemporary Printmaking. A two person exhibition with Chris Diedericks, The Fire-station Gallery, Lizamore & Ass, Johannesburg.
2022
Moksha Patam – an exhibition of Paper Sculptures and painted plates with Michelle D’Argent. Rust-en-Vrede Gallery and Clay Museum, Durbanville
2021
Metamorphosis and Mythology, an exhibition of paper sculptures.  Lizamore & Associates, Johannesburg.
2020
Imaginarium - an exhibition of paper sculptures, works on paper and engravings at the AVA Gallery, Cape Town (Due to Covid and lockdown restrictions, this became a virtual exhibition with a digital catalogue).
2018
Alternative History - works on paper at Rust en Vrede Gallery, Durbanville.
The Anatomy of the World, a solo exhibition at Lizamore and Associates, Johannesburg opening 4 July 2018.
2015
Samsara - exhibition of paintings, Lizamore & Associates, Johannesburg.
Exhibition of Graphic Works - Alternative History, Hodlmoser-atelier, Festung  Hohensalzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
Exhibition of Etchings, The Cape Gallery, Cape Town
2014
Exhibition of Water Paintings, the Casa Labia Gallery
Persephone's Garden, The Cape Gallery
2013
Water Element, a series of paintings inspired by travels to Zanzibar and Namibia. The Cape Gallery.
Persephone's Tears/Water element, and exhibition of oil paintings, Artspace, Johannesburg.
2012
Water, Fire and Ice - a series of paintings. The Cape Gallery.
The Tarot Card Portfolio - a series of 22 etching. The S.A. Print Gallery, CT.
2011
The Elements, an exhibition of oil paintings, IS Art, Franschoek.
Collected Works, a selection of etchings. The Cape Gallery , Cape Town.
The Elements, a series of circular paintings, Rust-en-Vrede, Durbanville.
2010
Solve et Coagula exhibition, collaboration with ceramic artist, John Bauer,
and the Tarot card Series at the Cape Gallery, Cape Town.
Paperworks & China boxes, Rust-en-Vrede, Durbanville, Cape Town.
Paperworks exhibition, Artspace Gallery, Johannesburg.
2009
Alchemical Diagrams and Shadow Boxes, the Cape Gallery, Cape Town.
Shadow Boxes, Perspex engraving and paper constructions at Rust-en-Vrede, Durbanville.
2008
Recent paintings and graphic works. The Cape Gallery, Cape Town.
2007
The Garden of Eden
An exhibition of Paintings, Absa Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunsfees, Oudtshoorn
2006
In the Shadow of the Mountain
An exhibition of landscape paintings, the Cape Gallery, Church Street, Cape Town.
2005
The Life of Everyman Suite
A series of recent etchings, The Cape Gallery, Cape Town
2004
Recent Etchings, The Life of Everyman – a suite of etchings and the Songline Series.
Art on Paper Gallery, Johannesburg.
2003
Parade of the Ridiculous, Art on Paper Gallery, Johannesburg.
Songlines – an exhibition of etchings. The Cape Gallery, Cape Town.
2002
Adam and Eve, graphic works and watercolours. Oxford Art Weeks, U.K.
Exhibition of the Burden Series, The Cape Gallery, Cape Town.
Exhibition of Graphics. Galerie im Traklhaus, Salzburg, Austria.
1999
Exhibition of Recent Works. Irma Stern Museum, Cape Town.
1995
Bread and Circus. An exhibition of etchings and watercolour drawings, Association for Visual Arts, Cape Town.
Monochromatic and miniature etchings.  Chelsea Gallery, Cape Town.
1994
Exhibition of etchings. The J.E. Stallion Gallery, Louisville, USA.
1993
Moria, a Eulogy of Folly
A series of etchings submitted for the M.A.F.A Degree, Association for Visual Art, Cape Town.
1991
The Music Box Etchings. The Market Gallery, Johannesburg.
1990
Exhibition of Etchings. The Chelsea Gallery, Wynberg, Cape Town.