Toni-ann Ballenden

Artist Biography

Ballenden has been producing Art and teaching since qualifying in Fine Art at The Wits Technicon in 1993 Cum Laude. Her work is in three major collections The Anglo American Collection, The Sasol Collection and The Johannesburg University Collection. Ballenden has had five solo exhibitions and has been on many group shows. Ballenden is currently working towards a solo show at Hazard Gallery in May 2018 Johannesburg.

There have been breaks in Ballenden’s career due to family commitments.

In 2015 Ballenden had an Artists Residence at the Bag Factory for three months, then moved on to Ariel Empire Studios with Bronwyn Lace. At the end of March 2016 this group of Artists moved into August House, an old 5 storey office building in Doornfontein Johannesburg with over 50 contemporary artists, probably the largest group of artists in one building in South Africa.

Artist Statement

Ballenden’s abstract works have evolved from beautiful sad drawings which many times were deliberately destroyed with fire or cut up with a knife, as I felt the work was not good enough.

This destructive process has become a conscious way of working where I will lovingly deconstruct a failed drawing or ink painting and then reconstruct the cut pieces of paper and raw canvas into new abstract work.

Working in August House has influenced my work in many ways, when I look out of my window I photograph the busyness of the poor and the unkept structures of the building which is often a starting point for my work.

The brokenness of what I witness around me in town is often a reflection of how I feel about myself and a realisation of how I am not alone in this shared life journey.

Toni-Ann Ballenden
Mind Map 2017
Work in progress. Mixed media on raw canvas, inks and ballpoin pens plus collage from deconstructed failed drawing (170cm x 165cm)

Toni-Ann Ballenden
A Small Circle Within 2017
Mixed media with inks ballpoint pens on raw canvas, plus collage from decontructed failed work (134cm x 175cm)

Toni-Ann Ballenden
A Scribbly Mind Map 2017
Work in Progress. Mixed media on raw canvas, inks ballpoint pens (174cm x 164cm)

Toni-Ann Ballenden
Deconstucted Reconstructed 2017
Mixed media on raw canvas, inks and ballpoint pens, cut up failed drawing reconstructed (73cm x 51cm)

Toni-Ann Ballenden
Peacock Mind Map 2017
Mixed media on raw canvas, inks ballpoint pens and collage from deconstructed failed drawings (175cm x 170cm)

Images ind Information sourced from http://www.art.co.za/
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