Vincent Bezuidenhout is a South African artist whose work spans image-making and investigative documentary practices. He has been awarded grants and fellowships from The National Arts Council of South Africa, The Goethe Institut, The Tierney Fellowship, Oppenheimer Memorial Trust, School of Visual Arts - NYC and the National Research Foundation of South Africa. Residencies include the Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris and Photoglobal at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Bezuidenhout holds a Master’s Degree in Fine Art from the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, is a published writer, and has lectured widely.
Bezuidenhout’s photographic work has been widely published in both academic and art publications, such as Harvard Design Magazine (Cambridge), Domus (Milan), The Visual Opinion (New York), Der Grief (Munich), Dazed & Confused (London), and Art Review (London).
His solo exhibitions include "Separate Amenities" (Whatiftheworld) and "Fail Deadly" (Goethe Institut). Notable group exhibitions featuring his work include "Powerplay" at Arebyte Gallery, London, and The National Gallery of Zimbabwe (2020/21); "Imagined Communities, Nationalism & Violence" at Rubber Factory, NYC (2018); Addis PhotoFest, Ethiopia (2018); "The Biennale Boda Boda Lounge Intercontinental Video Project'' across multiple African countries (2014, 2016); "Another Antipodes" at PS Art Space, Fremantle, Australia (2019); and "Morse Code: Distress Call, Returning to Sender" at Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin (2014).
His works are included in collections at institutions such as Stellenbosch University Museum, South Africa; The Tierney Foundation, New York; School of Visual Arts, New York City; Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art; ABSA L'atelier, South Africa; The South African National Association of Visual Arts, and The National Museum, South Africa.
In July 2024 Bezuidenhout will preset a solo exhibition of the project News From Elsewhere at the AVA Gallery, Cape Town South Africa.
EXHIBITIONS
2024
Resilience, The Bridge Gallery, Paris, France.
2023
Past an Present, Pinakothek der Moderne and ZIRKA, Munich, Germany.
Les Rencontres d'Arles Nuit de L'Année. Der Greif 15th Anniversary, Arles, France.
2022
Undisclosed Resource: Horror Show.
2020/21
Powerplay, Arebyte Gallery, London and The National Gallery of Zimbabwe
2019
Status, curated by Zahra Banyamerian, Great Hall, The First Presbyterian Church, New York City.
Unforseen Landscapes, PH Centre, Cape Town, South Africa..
2018
Addis Photo Fest, curated by Aida Muluneh, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
RE 21: This is Not Here, New York City, U.S.A.
Lights from the Island – Luces desde la Isla, The General Consulate of Colombia in New York, U.S.A.
2017
Imagined Communities, Nationalism & Violence, Rubber Factory, New York City.
Another Antipodes Exhibition: Urban Axis, PS Art Space, Fremantle WA, Australia
Photo London, London, U.K.
Anomalies, Semaphore Gallery, Switzerland.
PhotoLA, Curated by Penelope Umbrico, Los Angeles, U.S.A.
2016
Future Isms, Humble Arts Foundation, New York City, U.S.A.
2nd Biennale Boda Boda Lounge Intercontinental Video Project : Ethiopia, Mail, Senegal, DRC, South Africa,
Egypt, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, Angola, Cote d'Ivoire and Uganda.
100 Geographies, Stellenbosch University Museum, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Nothing is Impossible, No Show Museum, New York, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Detroit,
Chicago, St. Louis, Denver, Santa Fe, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Fail Deadly, Goethe on Main, Johannesburg, South Africa.
She Watches Over, Michaelis Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa.
2015
Sasol New Signatures, Pretoria Art Museum, South Africa.
The Persistence of Memory, Untitled, Cape Town, South Africa.
2014
PhotoGlobal 2007 – 2014, SVA Gramercy Gallery, New York City.
Boda Boda Lounge, Intercontinental Video Project: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia,
South Africa, Egypt, Mali, Nigeria, Angola, Zimbabwe, Cape Verde, Uganda.
Morse Code: Distress Call, Returning to Sender, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Berlin.
I Take It All Back, Nirox Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Gesture, US Gallery, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Gesture, Kalashnikovv Gallery, Johannesburg.
SITE: Photography and National Trauma in South Africa, US Gallery, Stellenbosch.
PHOTOGLOBAL New Releases, Site 109, New York.
Neighbouring Walls ♯3, Human, Brooklyn, New York.
Neighbouring Walls ♯5, Rugged, YouMeHaus, New York.
2013
Cape Town Art Fair, South Africa.
NYC25, Westwood Gallery, New York.
An Exhibition of Past Recipients: The Tierney Fellowship, Photoville, New York.
ABSA ‘L Atelier, ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Pentimenti & More, Art. b Gallery, South Africa.
New Beginnings, Art. b Gallery, South Africa.
2012
Exposure Now, Merchants on Long, Cape Town Month of Photography.
Joburg Fringe, Johannesburg, South Africa.
MFA Grad Show, Michaelis Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa.
Speke Photographic, Circa on Jellicoe, Johannesburg, South Africa.
2011
Separate Amenities, Whatiftheworld Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa.
Separate Amenities, Michaelis Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa.
Tierney Fellowship Exhibition, The New York Photo Festival, Brooklyn, New York.
Heimlich Maneuver’s, Michaelis MFA Exhibition, Michaelis Gallery, South Africa.
What Matters Now? Proposals for a new front page, Aperture Foundation, New York.
2010
ABSA L'Atelier, ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Scope Miami, Miami, U.S.A.
This Is Not Final, Michaelis Gallery, Cape Town and Substation Gallery, Johannesburg.
2009
ABSA L'Atelier, ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa.
London Calling, Scream Gallery, London.
Sasol New Signatures, South Africa.
Sanlam Vuleka, Art. b Gallery, South Africa.
2008
Bridge Art Fair '08, Miami, U.S.A.
2005
Nature Morte, Cape Town Month of Photography, Cape Town.
AWARDS AND GRANTS
2021/22
FOLIO, International Online Photobook Masterclass, PHMuseum & Witty Books, Italy.
2017
New York Foundation for the Arts: Immigrant Artist Mentor Program
2016
National Arts Council of South Africa: Visual Arts Project Funding.
Goethe Institut Individual Project Funding.
2015
Sasol New Signatures, South Africa (finalist).
2013
Oppenheimer Memorial Trust Bursary.
Tierney Family Foundation Award, School of Visual Arts, New York.
ABSA L'Atelier, South Africa (top ten finalist).
2012
National Arts Council of South Africa: Visual Arts Project Funding.
2011
NRF University Research Grant (University of Cape Town).
Harry Crossley Fund (University of Cape Town).
2010
Tierney Fellowship recipient.
Harry Crossley Fund (University of Cape Town).
ABSA L'Atelier, South Africa (top ten finalist).
Jules Kramer Music & Fine Art Grant (University of Cape Town).
National Arts Council of South Africa: Fine Art Bursary.
Art Association of Bellville: Student Bursary.
2009
Sasol New Signatures, South Africa (finalist).
ABSA L'Atelier, South Africa (finalist).
Sanlam Vuleka, South Africa (finalist).
2007
Prix De La Photographie, Paris (finalist).
International Photography Awards (Lucie’s - Highly Commended).
RESIDENCIES AND SYMPOSIUMS
2013
PhotoGlobal Residency, School of Visual Arts, New York
2012
Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris (Artist in Residence).
2011
Tierney Fellowship Masterclass, Cape Town. With Penny Siopis, Jane Alexander, Dave Southwood, Michael Godby and Paul Weinberg.
2010
29th Bienal de Sáo Paulo, Sáo Paulo, Brazil (Jules Kramer Travel Award)
Tierney Fellowship Masterclass, Johannesburg with David Goldblatt, Santu Mofokeng, Roger Ballen and Mikael Subotsky
Master class - photographic curation and exhibition management, with William A. Ewing and Pascal Hufschmidt
DAAD (The German Academic Exchange Service) Masterclass. With Phil Collins and Renata Lucas.
LECTURES
School of Visual Arts, New York City
Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
Wits School of Art, Johannesburg, South Africa
Cape Town School of Photography, South Africa
Ruth Prowse School of Art, Cape Town, South Africa
WRITING
2017
Without Walls: South Africa at Performa 17, Artthrob, South Africa (ONLINE).
2016
Makube Njalo: Athi-Patra Ruga’s ‘Over the Rainbow, Artthrob, South Africa (ONLINE).
She Watches Over, Vincent Bezuidenhout, Chad Rossouw, University Of Cape Town, Catalogue (PDF).
2015
Rewriting History: Kemang Wa Lehulere’s History Will Break Your Heart, Artthrob, South Africa (ONLINE).
Regarding the censorship of the work Banned, BODA BODA LOUNGE PROJECT: From Space (Scope) to Place (Position): 26 (ONLINE).
2012
Separate Amenities: Topographics of Recreational Spaces in South Africa University Of Cape Town, 170 pages (PDF).
2011
The Tierney Fellowship: Vincent Bezuidenhout, Juan Orrantia and Thabiso Sekgala. Blurb, 65 pages (PDF).
2010
Rituals of Recreation, The Photographic Angle, U.K.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2022
Meghan L. E. Kirkwood (2022) Between social documentary and a global aesthetic: the use of landscape by early-career South African photographers, photographies, 15:2, 289-307, DOI: 10.1080/17540763.2022.2060289
2019
Broomberg, Chanarin (eds.) 2019, Der Greif, Issue 12, Germany.
2018
Bezuidenhout, V. 2018, Themeless. Voltface.online, Volume 1, [ONLINE]
Der Grief: Guest Room with curator Monica Allende, October, 2018. [ONLINE]
2016
African Photography Initiatives, Multiple Gazes of a Country’s Photographed Past, October 2016:76-79.
Smith, Tymon. Fail Deadly - Tödliches Versagen und Ende der Diskussion, Afrika Süd, 45/5, September/October 2016, Germany: 31-32.
Ons Klyntji, August 2016, South Africa.
Smith, Tymon. Vincent Bezuidenhout’s ‘Fail Deadly. Artthrob, July 22, [ONLINE].
Van Der Merwe, M. Weapon of Mass Instruction: Apartheid SA’s nuclear arsenal in mixed media, Daily Maverick, 22 JUL 2016, [ONLINE].
2015
Pelser, M. & Elmaleh, L. (eds.), 2015, The Tierney Fellowship, U.S.A: The Tierney Family Foundation, 100-101.
Kala, E. (Ed). Boda Boda Lounge Project: From Space (Scope) to Place (Position), 2015, South Africa: 26-27, [ONLINE].
2014
Fototazo: Dialogues, from Africa: Juan Orrantia and Vincent Bezuidenhout, Colombia, [ONLINE].
Bélanger, P. Between the Tides of Apartheid. Harvard Design Magazine, No. 39, Winter, Cambridge: Harvard University Press: 162 [ONLINE].
ITCH, The Creative Journal. Issue 13, Detection, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
Ons Klyntji, August 2014, South Africa: 118.
The Visual Opinion, Vol. 9, Issue 4, School of Visual Arts, New York: 7-8.
2013
Ons Klyntji, August 2013, South Africa: 133.
Domus Magazine, June 2013, Italy.
ABSA L'Atelier, South Africa: 24-25.
2012
The Visual Opinion, Vol. 9, Issue 4. School of Visual Arts, New York: 50-51.
Blackman, M. A Tale of Two Systems, Art Review, September 2012, U.K.: 108.
Art Times, June 2012, South Africa: 20.
Masters Grad Show, A selection of work from participating MFA Graduates, Michaelis -School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, South Africa: 1-4.
Photo District News, Spring 2012, U.S.A.: 23.
2011
Hunter Magazine, Issue19/ Autumn Winter 2011, Italy: 166-137.
Heimlich Maneuver’s, Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, South Africa: 10-13.
2010
ABSA L'Atelier, South Africa: 38,44.
Michaelis/Wits MFA Exhibition, This is not final, Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, South Africa
2009
ABSA L'Atelier, South Africa.
Sasol New Signatures, South Africa: 13.
2008
Itch, Bell Roberts Publishers, South Africa.
AOP Assistant Awards, The Association of Photographers, U.K.: 32.
2007
AOP Open, The Association of Photographers, U.K.
2005
Cape Town Month of Photography, South Africa: 30.
2001
SAPHOTO Magazine, Breaking Away From Tradition, July/August, South Africa: 20-22.