Sekoto Gerard Horoscope

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Sekoto Gerard

Dec 9, 1913

Rating : B (Data from a less reliable source)

Aries
Moon Sign

Scorpio
Sun Sign

Scorpio
Lagan

Events

Death:Death, Cause unspecified 20 March 1993 chart Placidus Equal_H.

Biography

South African artist and musician. He is recognised as the pioneer of urban black art and social realism. He has had exhibitions in Paris, Stockholm, Venice, Washington, Senegal as well as in South Africa. As the son of a missionary, music was a part of his life, and he was introduced to the family harmonium at an early age. In 1938 at the age of 25 he left for Johannesburg to pursue a career as an artist. He held his first solo exhibition in 1939. In 1940 the Johannesburg Art Gallery purchased one of his pictures; it was to be the first picture painted by a black artist to enter a museum collection. In 1942 he moved to District Six in Cape Town and in 1945 he moved to Eastwood, Pretoria. In 1947 he left South Africa to live in Paris under self-imposed exile. The first years in Paris were hard, and Sekoto was employed as a pianist purely by chance at l’Echelle de Jacob (Jacob’s ladder), a trendy nightclub that had reopened for business after World War II. Here he played jazz and sang ‘Negro Spirituals’, popular French songs of the period and some Harry Belafonte. Music became the way that he could pay his living and art school expenses. Between 1956 and 1960, several of Sekoto’s compositions were published by Les Editions Musicales. Sekoto played piano and sang on several records. He composed 29 songs, mostly excessively poignant, recalling the loneliness of exile, yet displaying the inordinate courage of someone battling to survive in a foreign cultural environment. In 1966 he visited Senegal for a year. Sekotos paintings became political in the 1970s due to apartheid in his home country. In 1989 the Johannesburg Art Gallery honoured him with a retrospective exhibition and the University of Witwatersrand with an honorary doctorate. He died on 20 March 1993 at a retirement home outside Paris. Link to Wikipedia biography Read less

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Update at: Jul 3, 2025

`` Gerard Sekoto

Gerard Sekoto (1913-1993)

Gerard Sekoto, born on December 9, 1913, in Botshabelo, South Africa, was a prominent painter, musician, and teacher. He is widely recognized as a pioneer of South African modern art, notably for his vibrant depictions of township life and portraits reflecting the social realities of his time.

Life and Career

Sekoto's initial artistic training was at the Diocesan Training College in Pietersburg. He later honed his skills at the Polly Street Art Centre in Johannesburg, where he interacted with other notable artists. He gained recognition through exhibitions and competitions, winning second prize in the May Esther Bedford Competition in 1939. Increasingly frustrated by the limitations imposed by apartheid, Sekoto left South Africa in 1947, living in exile primarily in Paris, France, until his death in 1993. Throughout his career, he balanced his artistic pursuits with teaching, working as a music teacher for a period.

Artistic Style and Themes

Sekoto's works are characterized by their expressive use of color and composition. He is renowned for capturing the energy of everyday life in townships, often depicting scenes of music, dance, and social gatherings. His portraits convey a deep sense of humanity, reflecting the struggles and resilience of individuals living under apartheid. His style evolved over time, influenced by his exposure to European art movements, but he retained a distinctive visual language rooted in his South African experience.

Legacy and Recognition

Although exiled for many years, Sekoto's contribution to South African art has been widely celebrated. His works are held in major collections internationally and nationally. Several retrospectives have been dedicated to his work, acknowledging his pivotal role in shaping South African modernism. He received numerous awards and honors posthumously, recognizing his artistic significance and his resistance against apartheid through his art.

Unfortunately, concrete information regarding specific recent projects, detailed social media presence, and up-to-the-minute news related to Gerard Sekoto is scarce in readily accessible public domains. Due to his passing in 1993, active social media profiles would be unlikely. The best sources for current information on exhibitions or scholarship related to his work would be major museums, galleries specializing in South African art, and academic institutions researching his art and legacy.