Beezy Bailey

Artist biography:

Born: 1962, Johannesburg, South Africa

Beezy Bailey studied Fine Art at Byam Shaw in London. Working from the model in life drawing was an essential foundation for his later work. Bailey works in the fields of performance art, sculpture, wood and bronze carving, print-making, drawing and painting.

Based in Cape Town, Bailey exhibits around the world, and his work is included in many important private collections as well as the South African National Gallery and the Bochum Museum in Germany. He work has also been included at the Cuban and Prague Biennales.

'Face of Africa' is from Beezy's Icon Iconoclast work - a tribute to Nelson Mandela - paintings with silkscreened photographs. The photographs were sourced from press photographer Benny Gools' extensive archive of Mandela images. It is an artistic tribute to Andy Warhol, pushing the monochrome approach of Warhol further forward by screen printing onto both abstract and landscape paintings.

In 2002 and 2004 Bailey organized the 'Art for AIDS Orphans' auctions in Cape Town and Johannesburg, respectively. He is a founding partner of Art for Africa and spearheaded efforts for the London sale at Sotheby's in 2009.

Beezy Bailey is represented by Everard Read Gallery in Cape Town and Johannesburg.