Cecil Skotnes

Cecil Skotnes (1 June 1926 – 4 April 2009) was a prominent South African artist.He was born in East London in 1926, studied drawing in Florence, Italy, the Witwatersrand Technical Art School and then the University of the Witwatersrand. He was appointed cultural officer in charge of the influential Polly Street Art Centre in 1952. Skotnes was a founding member of the Amadlozi Group in 1961

Quotes

• Being a woodcutter by virtue of the grain of wood and technique, you tend to get a sort of Cubist quality. And that of course is very tribal.
  • https://www.artnet.com/artists/cecil-skotnes/

• Whatever achievements have been registered by black artists are monuments to their natural ability and their desire to create are in the face of the most astonishing difficulties.

• Technical training has almost been totally denied the aspirant black artists and financial support for their efforts has been negligible. It has been a privilege for me to have been associated with so many artists from these townships from whom I have learned so much, not only artistically but about the meaning of dedication.”
  • https://www.everard-read.co.za/artist/CECIL_SKOTNES/biography/