In the 1950s Shawzin moved to New York, to study at the New York Art Students League, where she was taught by George Bridgman, Frank DuMond and Yasuo Kuniyoshi. After her time at the Art Students League, she enrolled at the Pratt Institute Workshop for Artists, where Shawzin improved her knowledge of graphic techniques.

Despite her wide-ranging training in many media, Shawzin decided to work almost exclusively as a sculptor. She established her own foundry in Constantia, Cape Town to cast her bronzes. All her marble sculptures were carved in the studio of Carlo Nicoli in Carrara, Italy. Carrara marble is renowned for its durability and purity, making it ideal for sculpture and building. Shawzin was a successful and widely recognised figure in her own lifetime, and was widely exhibited across the globe, with shows in London, Paris, New York, and Bologna, as well as shows closer to home in Johannesburg and Cape Town. These early works show her early experimentation with media.

The viewer is transported to South Africa through Shawzin’s beautiful harbour landscapes which show traditional boats docked with the majestic mountains beyond. The vibrant blues are highlighted with white creating depth across the board.

Included in this collection of works is a series of rural landscapes showing farmers at work. These paired back simple designs are depicted using a monochromatic colour palette. Shawzin has chosen earthy browns, beiges, and creams to build up layers of paint illustrating figures completing everyday tasks in rural South Africa. Lot 12 is titled Basutoland Dusk. Basutoland gained its independence on 4 October 1966 and was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho. This area is made up of a large proportion of land which is mountainous and uninhabitable. Nonetheless, this dramatic landscape sets as a striking backdrop for Shawzin’s work.

Auction Details

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Friday 18 August | 10.30am BST
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 2JE

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