Encaustic painting is a unique & ancient technique that involves using heated beeswax mixed with pigments to create artwork. The word "encaustic" comes from the Greek word "enkaustikos," which means "to burn in", dating back to ancient Egypt and Greece.
"I am motivated by the enjoyment and excitement of allowing images to appear, manipulating the material, pushing and pulling pigment across the surface of the canvas or paper.
It is very important for me not to have a recognizable image but rather ambiguous, enigmatic forms. The mystery is significant of life, religion, the unknown and undecipherable. Intangible things that trigger the imagination, shapes that have the presence and not the lineaments of objects. I work from my intuition finding ways to contact the subconscious so as to reach the collective unconscious." Regi Bardavid
Regi Bardavid is a South African abstract artist known for her expertise in Beeswax Encaustic painting. Her mastery of this unique medium allows her to create stunning and intricate textures. Her artistic prowess and unique approach to Encaustic paintings have earned her a distinguished place in the SA contemporary art scene. Her style of true abstraction is a mesmerizing journey into the realm of colors and forms that transcend traditional representations. Her use of bold and vibrant colors infuses her paintings with a striking vitality, making them all the more captivating to the viewer. Each artwork exudes a sense of mysticism, drawing the audience into a world of enigmatic beauty and emotional depth.
Born in Alexandria Egypt, Regi has lived in Italy, Zimbabwe, Zaire and South Africa. She studied at the Johannesburg Art Foundation under the guidance of Bill Ainslie (1979-1983). Enrolled as a Fine Art student at UNISA in 1985 achieving a B.A.F.A. in 1989.
Public and Private Collections
The Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town
University of Pretoria
The University of South Africa (UNISA), Pretoria
The South African Embassy. Paris, France
The South African Embassy. Washington, USA
The Constitutional Court. Johannesburg, SA
The Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Johannesburg, SA
Rand Merchant Bank. Johannesburg, SA
The South African Breweries MTN. Johannesburg, SA
Sanlam Bank. Johannesburg, SA
Telkom. Johannesburg, SA
Boland Bank, Johannesburg, SA
Spescom Electronics, Johannesburg, SA
NAPPO. Johannesburg, SA
SASOL. Johannesburg, SA
Origins. Johannesburg, SA
The Oppenheimer Collection. Johannesburg, SA
Investec Bank. Johannesburg, SA
BMW. Cape Town, SA
Telkom. Cape Town, SA
Wooltru. Cape Town, SA
Vodacom. Cape Town, SA
Spier Collection. Cape Town, SA
Old Mutual. Cape Town, SA
SAB Miller. London, UK
Ellerman House. Cape Town, SA
Commonwealth Bank Australia (London Head Office)
