BRETT CHARLES SEILER

(b.1994 Zimbabwe)

‘Brett Charles Seiler’s works read as confessions, or diary entries left exposed. Seiler too uses text in his work, single sentences with his characteristic honesty, sometimes sentimental, more often blunt. Missing lovers I have never met, says one work, I once jerked off to a portrait of Jesus, says another.’ – Lucienne Bestall

Seiler’s work takes the forms of painting and installations. The use of text and language is critical for Seiler, with often poetic, religious and sediments functioning like a confessional. Dealing with ideas of romantic gestures and sexual interactions, Seiler’s works dives into historical gay modes of communication and conduct, binging forward a collective memory of gay rights movements, and focusing on the sexual oppression of gay men. This results in feelings of longing, distance and nostalgia.

Seiler’s paintings are often accompanied by performance-based works, process works and interventions. Works that ‘queer’ the gallery space, including writing and imagery created directly on the walls of the gallery – as a revolt or disobedience. Though currently based in Cape Town, being from Zimbabwe, Seiler’s work is also recognised for questioning gay rights in the African context, highlighting punishment, education, media and institutions.

Seiler graduated from the Ruth Prowse School of Art in 2015. Solo exhibitions include ‘Macho Man, Tell It To My Heart’, 2016 at AVA, Cape Town and ‘More Scared Of What Was In My Closet Than What Was Underneath My Bed’, 2018 at CIRCA gallery, Cape Town. Seiler has also been included in various group exhibitions including a  performance piece with Luvuyo Nyawose titled ‘Reading Homophobia’, 2017, at the A4 Arts Foundation in Cape Town, curated by Kemang Wa Lehulere and Zipho Dayile. 

EDUCATION

2015

Graduated from The Ruth Prowse School of Art

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2022

Scenes from an Apartment, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

Oh, Christopher, M + B, Los Angeles, USA

At Some Point, I Thought I was Building a Home, Investec Cape Town Art Fair, With Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

2021

Timber, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

2020

Closet, Goodman Gallery viewing room, Johannesburg, South Africa

2019

How I forgot the colours of the rainbow, SMITH, Cape Town

2018

More Scared Of What Was In The Closet Than What Was Underneath My Bed, Everard Read, Cape Town

2016

Macho Man, Tell It To My Heart, AVA Gallery, Cape Town

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2022

Things I'd Like to Remember, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

In Between Dreams, Gallery Eigen + Art, Berlin, Germany

Das Eigene im Fremden, Museum Bensheim, Germany

Hot House, Sizty Siz, London, UK

Rokhunstbau 27, Altdobern Castle, Germany

2021

Summer 2021, Everard Read, London, UK

In Conversation, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

Space and Place, curated by Khanya Mashabela, Gallery Eigen, Leipzig, Germany

2020

ODYSSEY, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

FNB Joburg Art Fair, online, solo booth curated by Jana Terblanche

2019

Emphatic Whispers, SMITH, Cape Town

Winter 2019, Everard Read, Cape Town

Home Affairs, Waterfront Docks, Cape Town

OUTSIDE, Riebeek Kastel Gallery, Cape Town

2018

One Straight Hour performed for The Main Complaint, Zeitz MOCCA, Cape Town

Sunday Service, GUS, Stellenbosch

Unfair, The Ruth Prowse School of Art, Cape Town

The Edge of a Thread, Eclectica Contemporary, Cape Town

Close Encounters, SMITH, Cape Town

Not Really, Previously Known As, Cape Town

Multiplicities Vol1: Continuous Unknowing, Assembly Room, NYC

2017

Closer than Ever, Gallery MOMO, Cape Town

Performance Night, Gallery MOMO, Cape Town

One Week, AVA Gallery, Cape Town

Young Now, Hazard Gallery, Johannesburg

Hold, The Ruth Prowse School of Art, Cape Town

You and I, A4 Foundation, Cape Town

Dislocation, Everard Read, Cape Town

Salon Show, AVA Gallery, Cape Town

ABSA Atelier Top 100 finalists, ABSA Gallery, Pretoria

2016

Falling Into One Another, Ruth Prowse School of Art, Cape Town

New Monuments, Commune.1, Cape Town

Winter Collection, Everard Read, Cape Town

One Zero Seven, 107 Long market Street, Cape Town

The Ties That Bind, Bend, Break, Secret Dungeon, NYC

Lip Service with Khanya Mashabela, Open Dialogue Box, Cape Town

Sorry! Please Try Again, The Palms Center, Cape Town

Reading Homophobia with Luvuyo Nyawose, performance, Gallery MOMO, Cape Town

ART FAIRS

2016       

Emerging Painters, Turbine Art Fair, Johannesburg

AWARDS AND COMPETITIONS

2017     

ABSA Atelier Top 100 finalists