About the Artist
About the Artist
Michael Schur was born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1932.
Michael`s earliest paintings were influenced by the flying buttresses of Gothic Architecture, using strong effects inspired by elements of stained-glass windows. Later his love of music became dominant in his paintings and this added rhythmic movement to them as may be seen in his brush strokes. Colour and texture play an important part in this approach as do strong compositional lines. He uses the underpainting process whereby he starts with earth colours, then building the painting up, layer by layer. The underlying colour affects the top layers as it reflects through them.
His choice of subjects, for example musicians and dancing figures, likewise, lends itself readily to this procedure. It is a technique that is slowly becoming a lost art. In landscapes, however, he uses lines and planes of colour in such a way as to perpetuate the rhythmical movement found in nature. All through his work, texture and layer-painting help to provide a backdrop to this flowing motion. Perspective in his oil paintings is not only to be found in linear effect, but can be displayed through layer painting.
“Michael Schur really is a painter`s painter, subscribing to the traditional European values, invested in the best loved genres of landscape, still-life and figure studies, and rendering South African contemporary landscapes with a deliberate prosaic brush.” Robyn Sassen
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Education
Education
1954: Studied with Erik Laubscher (student of Fernand Leger) at the Contemporary School of Art in Cape Town - later at the Ruth Prowse Art Centre, under Laubscher.
1955: Studied with Alfred Krenz in Cape Town.
1956: Studied with Zoltan Borbereki when he first arrived in Cape Town from Budapest, Hungary.
1957 - 1958: In London he studied at the St. Martins College of Art. Also part-time studied at the Aldermaston College in England
2005: Accepted as a member of the Ku-ring-gai Art Society in Sydney, Australia
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Themes
Themes
Private and Public Collections His paintings are in private collections here and overseas. In Israel, the Municipality of Petach Tikva acquired a painting for their collection.
Themes Landscapes, street scenes, musical figures and seascapes.
Johannesburg At present he teaches art in his private studio and over the years has assisted and prepared students to enter Wits University, as well as the Technicon Art School. He taught at Progress School in Pimville from January 1982 untill the first quarter of 1983.
College Lecturer He was on the staff of Manu Technical College, Dobsonville, where for some years he lectured in printing technology. He also studied printing as a profession some years ago, working in Cape Town, Johannesburg and London. He also lectured in Industrial Communications.
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Exhibitions
Exhibitions
South Africa: Johannesburg
2009: Exhibited in Helsinki, Finland
2008: Became a member of Artists Universal - Helsinki, Finland
2008: Exhibited in Johannesburg - Solo Exhibition : Cyril Harris Centre
2006: SAATCHI Gallery in London gave free exposer on their website
2004: Painting accepted by Constitutional Court South Africa
1998: The Wedgwood Gallery, Parkhurst (Solo exhibition)
1997: Exhibited in a group exhibition in Irene, Huis Jansen Gallery in September, Organised by the "Suid Afrikaanse Kultuur Vereniging"
1994: Da Capo Club in November
1987: Johannesburg Studio Route - 19 Letaba Road, Emmerentia. His work has also appeared on M-Net TV.
1985: Exhibition at Temple Emanuel in February (One man show)
1985: Private Exhibition (One man show)
1981: Trevor Colman Gallery (One man show)
Israel:
1979: City of Nahariya (January 5 - 6 One man show)
1977: Ramat David Air Force Base (December 17 One man show)
1977: City of Haifa (November 26 - 29 One man show)
1977: City of Haifa (July 23 - 26 One man show). One of his works forms part of their permanent exhibition. Deputy Mayor opened the exhibition
1977: City of Petach Tikvah (One man show - invited back by Municipality Cultural Committee)
1977: City of Nahariya (One man show)
1976: City of Petach Tikva (One man show)
1976: Beit Rothschild, Haifa (One man show)
South Africa: Cape Town
1964: First one man exhibition in Cape Town
1962: Cape Salon (South African Association of Arts) Group Exhibition (invited)
1954: Exhibited at the Contemporary School of Art
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Articles
Articles
Article 1 Highlight (above):
“The titles of Schur's paintings are simplified, on-target and thought provoking. He uses colour very effectively to make a statement in each of them, while the variety of ideas and moods in his work keeps the viewer interested and intrigued.” Rebecca McKinley
Article 2: (above)
Painting designed for the Constitutional Court art collection, named "Harmony".
Article 3 Highlight (above):
“Artist Michael Schur wowed art enthusiasts with his paintings during the recent opening of his exhibition” Noni Mokati
Article 4 Highlight (above):
“Out of the 40 works on exhibit, it is these paintings that radiate a colour scheme of their own, and draw the eye into a beautiful swirl of colours, glazes and textures. The undeniable musical quality about his rhythmic brushstrokes stems from Schur's love of music and early days.”
“There is not a person that will be able: to wander through Schur's solo exhibition and not be moved by his masterful oil paintings. Each painting has its own story to tell, beginning in the layers upon layers of paint that lie beneath till'surface and subtly colour till' masterpiece on the surface.” Natalie Bosman
Article 5 Highlight (above):
“MICHAELSCHUR really is a painter's painter, subscribing to the traditional European values, invested in the well-loved genres of landscape, still life and figure studies, and rendering South African contemporary landscapes with a deliberate and prosaic brush.” Robyn Sassen
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