Ben Macala (1938-1997) . The Book Reader. Mixed media, signed and framed. Excellent condition.

Painting's dimensions are 64 cm x 51 cm.

A mixed media painting hand signed by the artist.

Behind non-reflective glass with a gilt metal frame. Pleas excuse the reflection on the glass in some of my photos. The first photo was taken out of the glare.

Secure packaging and courier via Postnet to Postnet is R199.

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Benjamin Mzimkulu Macala was born in Bloemfontein in 1938. He started his art career in 1965 and worked for a time with Ephrahim Ngatane and they became great friends. He also studied under Cecil Skotnes at the Jubilee Art Centre in Johannesburg in 1967 and in 1968 studied under Bill Ainslie. He became a full time artist in 1967.

Although Ben Macala first became known as a sculptor, he is equally well known for his pictorial work. There is a great affinity between his sculptures and his paintings. There is the same extreme curvilinear quality as in his pictorial work, portrayed with great compassion and tenderness. He is especially fond of creating heads, most often female heads. Some of his early faces were Madonna-lime with serene qualities. He worked mainly in soft pastel green and brown tones.

Macala was included in the African Painters and Sculptors from Johannesburg Exhibitions at the Picadilly Gallery in London in 1963. He had one-man exhibitions at the Lidchi Gallery in Johannesburg in 1967 and 1969 and thereafter had several others. He has participated in group exhibitions worldwide, including the Neglected Tradition Exhibition in the Johannesburg Art Gallery in 1988.

He is represented in the South African National Gallery in Cape Town and at the University collection at Fort Hare among others.

( From "Images of Man. Contemporary South African Black Art and Artists" by E.J. de Jager ).