Paintings | Works on Paper | Sculpture
45 Year Retrospective Exhibit | 1964-2009
Introduction
Henry Meyer was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1948 and studied at the Johannesburg School of Art. In 1967 at age 18, he had his first of many solo exhibitions at Johannesburg’s Gallery 101. He was regarded as a gifted, innovative contributor to the 1960s South African art scene, and was a student of Bill Ainslie who played a significant role in his artistic development.
Henry Meyer also lived and worked in New York and Toronto. In 2009, the time of his sudden death, he resided in Toronto.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
| Year | Exhibition |
|---|---|
| 1967/68 | Gallery 101 Johannesburg, S. Africa |
| 1968 | Walsh Marais Gallery, Durban, S. Africa |
| Kozmopolitan Gallery, New York | |
| 1969 | The Art Museum, St. John’s Memorial University, Newfoundland, Canada |
| 1970 | Kozmopolitan Gallery |
| Lidchi Gallery, Johannesburg, S. Africa | |
| 1981 | Artplan Gallery, Vancouver, Canada |
| 1982 | 70th Street Gallery, New York |
| 1988 | The Edge Gallery, Vancouver |
| 1991 | The Zack Gallery, Vancouver |
| 1992 | JCC Gallery, Denver, USA |
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
| Year | Exhibition |
|---|---|
| 1967 | South African Graphics Tour of Canada |
| Cape Town Art Gallery | |
| Kozmopolitan Gallery, New York | |
| 1968 | Kozmopolitan Gallery |
| Museum of Modern Art, Junior Council Exhibit, New York | |
| 1969 | Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg |
| Lidchi Art Gallery, Johannesburg | |
| 1970 | Pollock Gallery, Toronto |
| Riverside Community Gallery, New York | |
| Gallery Moos, Toronto | |
| 1987 | Threshold Gallery, Vancouver |
FELLOWSHIPS
| Year | Fellowship |
|---|---|
| 1969 | The Edward MacDowell Colony, New Hampshire, USA |
| 2009 | Finalist, John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship |
MAJOR PURCHASE
The Art Museum, St. John’s Memorial University, Newfoundland, Canada
Early Works
Johannesburg at Night
1964 India ink on paper 14 1/2” x 9 3/4”
African Landscape
1964 24” x 24”
African Landscape I
1965 Oil pastel on paper 20” x 16”
African Landscape II
1965 Oil pastel on paper 20” x 16”
Cover of ArtLook Magazine South African Publication
1968
Two Figures
1965 Ballpoint pen on paper 30” x 22”
Run For Your Life I
1966 Ballpoint pen on paper 30” x 22”
Run For Your Life II
1966 Ballpoint pen on paper 30” x 22”
Putting Down The Head
1966 Enamel monotype on paper 30” x 22”
Playing the Game
1966 Enamel monotype on paper 30” x 22”
Walking Soul
1966 Enamel monotype on paper 22” x 30”
Fat Man
1966 Wax 5” x 5.5” x 4”
Figure
1966 Enamel monotype on paper 22” x 30”
Souls
1966 Enamel monotype on paper 22” x 30”
Mask
1966 Welded steel 6” x 14” x 2.5”
Portrait of My Mother
1966 Enamel & etching ink on paper 12” x 15”
Idiots 1 & 2
1968 PVC Plastic and enamel pint 18” x 4”
Idiots 3 & 4
1968 PVC Plastic and enamel pint 18” x 4”
Woman
1968 Oil on un-primed canvas 54” x 50”
Masquerade Party
1968 Oil on un-primed canvas 54” x 50”
Bird and Woman
1968 Oil on un-primed canvass 54” x 50”
Woman with Birds
1968 Acrylic on canvass 50” x 54”
Dream of the Bird Woman
1968 Acrylic on canvass 50” x 54”
1968 Oil on paper 20” x 16”
leanings: A NOVEL: AN EXHIBIT 33 color plates.
1969 Acrylic on canvass 50” x 54”
The Coney Island Legs
1969 Acrylic on canvass 50” x 54”
1968 Oil on paper 20” x 16”
Woman, My Dear Woman I
1968 Serigraph 8” x 8”
Woman, My Dear Woman II
1968 Serigraph 8” x 8”
Catharsis
In 1982 Meyer began a spiritual journey, discovering his Judaic roots. His work began to change as he traveled further into the mystical realms of Judaism. The works shown here are from a series of 49 pieces completed in seven days.
His work changed dramatically. New shapes, forms and content seemed pure in essence and images from previous memories began to surface as he explored deeper and deeper into the mysical realms. A new dimension began to unfold.
My Flip Side
1982 Oil Pastel on paper 25” x 38”
Run For Your Life
1982 Oil Pastel on paper 25” x 38”
Daddy And His Paper
1982 Oil Pastel on paper 25” x 38”
Daddy I
1982 Oil Pastel on paper 25” x 38”
Playing Ball
1982 Oil Pastel on paper 25” x 38”
My Good Friend Leonard
1982 Oil Pastel on paper 25” x 38”
Daddy II
1982 Oil Pastel on paper 25” x 38”
Cross-Legged
1982 Oil Pastel on paper 25” x 38”
She’s Oh So Sweet!
1982 Oil Pastel on paper 25” x 38”
The Egg Watcher
1982 Oil on paper 74” x 42”
Self Portrait I
1982 Oil Pastel on paper 25” x 38”
Self Portrait II
1982 Oil Pastel on paper 25” x 38”
Self Portrait III
1982 Oil Pastel on paper 25” x 38”
Self Portrait IV
1982 Oil Pastel on paper 25” x 38”
Miniatures
Purim Jackets
Haman’s Hanging Hat
1985 Mixed media 14” x 26” x 14”
Shushan Game Farm
Back of a full length, open front coat
The Purim Wars Front:
Fabric paint
The Purim Wars Back
Fabric paint
Purim Jacket Front
Fabric paint
Purim Jacket Back
Fabric paint
Purim Jacket Front
Fabric paint
Purim Jacket Back
Fabric paint
Purim Jacket Front
Fabric paint
Purim Jacket Front
Fabric paint
Collection
1983 Grease pencil on paper 16” x 20”
1983 Grease pencil on paper 16” x 20”
1983 Grease pencil on paper 16” x 20”
Group Exhibition / Threshold Gallery, Vancouver
1987
The Parrot
1984 Enamel and ink on paper 25” x 38”
Manna & Palms
1984 Oil on canvass 24” x 36”
First Offering
1984 Oil on canvass 50” x 54”
1984 Oil on paper 38” x 50”
The Helmet
1984 Oil on paper 38” x 50”
Loshon Hara (Gossip)
1987 Limited Edition of 300 Serigraph 30” x 40”
1983 Grease pencil on paper 16” x 20”
1982 Grease pencil and oil pastel on paper 16” x 20”
Pyramid Child
1982 Grease pencil and oil pastel on paper 16” x 20”
Such A Smile
1982 Grease pencil on paper 16” x 20”
1982 Grease pencil on paper 16” x 20”
An Ancient
1982 Oil pastel on paper 16” x 20”
Figure
1984 Enamel paint on enamel paper 28” x 40”
In The Ring
1984 Enamel paint on enamel paper 28” x 40”
The Chip
1984 Enamel paint on enamel paper 28” x 40”
My Heart
1984 Enamel paint on enamel paper 28” x 40”
Head Above A Head
1984 Enamel paint on enamel paper 28” x 40”
Tumble Time
1984 Enamel paint on enamel paper 28” x 40”
Portrait Of Anatoly Sharansky
1984 Oil and oil pastel on paper 36” x 36”
1983 Oil pastel on paper 18” x 26”
Back from the Wars
1999 Oil and oil pastel on paper 40” x 96”
Creation
1983 Oil pastel on paper 31” x 71”
Purim Masquerade (Detail)
1983 Enamel , acrylic and ink on paper 50” x 81”
Happy Woman
1999 Oil pastel and enamel on paper 42” x 79”
Self Portrait As A Staircase (Detail)
1996 Oil on paper 42” x 83”
Back To Front To Back
1997 Oil pastel on paper 42” x 88”
Bird 1
1988 Oil on Canvas 48” x 48”
The Red Threads
1988 Oil on Canvas 48” x 48”
Bird 2
1988 Oil on Canvas 48” x 48”
MadHead
1988 Oil on Canvas 48” x 48”
Old Man
1988 Oil on board 25” x 38”
Hillel’s Bride
1988 Oil on board 38” x 50”
1988 Enamel on enamel paper 25” x 38”
Clown
1988 Oil crayon on board 50” x 38” inches
Flowers in Gan Eden I
1990 Ink on paper 10” x 8”
Flowers in Gan Eden II
1990 Ink on paper 10” x 8”
1990 Ink on paper 7” x 5”
They Must Be Alive
1990 Ink on paper 7” x 5”
1990 Ink on paper 8” x 12”
Ancient Figure & Shape Series
1982 Grease pencil on paper 6” x 9”
Ancient Figure & Shape Series
Ancient Figure & Shape Series
Ancient Figure & Shape Series
Ancient Figure & Shape Series
Ancient Figure & Shape Series
Ancient Figure & Shape Series
Ancient Figure & Shape Series
New Work
Simchat Torah
2007 Enamel paint on enamel coated paper 28” x 40”
UNTZNIUS/TZNIUS Immodest/Modest
2007 Flourescent lamp 4” x 4”x 52” Aluminum, plastic and marble
UNTZNIUS/TZNIUS Immodest/Modest
2007 20” x 30” Limited edition of 10 digital prints
Spiritual Reflection of The Eternal Etrog
2005 Oil on canvas 24” x 36”
Monumental Gragger
2005 Oil on canvas 24” x 36”
Super L’Chayim
2005 Oil on canvas 24” x 36”
Gum shoe, gum chew, gum zu l’tova (Gum Zu L’Tova - Everything happens for the best)
2008
Now I Am Wrinkle Free T’Shuvah (Repentance)
2007 Steel and wood 33” x 24” x 55”
Pick A Life
2009 Steel, wood, plastic 24’ x 24” x 18”
Rambam’s Kosher Chicken Soup
2009 Photoprint 20” x 30” Limited edition of 20 prints
Dance Of The Gartels
2008 Oil on canvas 48” x 72”
Ancient Shape Orange/Gold
2008 Oil on canvas 36” x 48”
Ancient Shape Pink/Silver
2008 Oil on canvas 36” x 48”
Menorah
2007 Enamel paint on enamel coated paper 28” x 40”
Still Life with Esrog
2007 Enamel paint on enamel coated paper 28” x 40”
Fruit of the Vine
2007 Enamel paint on enamel coated paper 28” x 40”
Dates Of The Seven Kinds
2007 Enamel 28” x 40”
Gragger
2007 Enamel paint on enamel coated paper 28” x 40”
Dreidle
2007 Enamel paint on enamel coated paper 28” x 40”
Kiddush Cup
2007 Enamel paint on enamel coated paper 28” x 40”
Shabbat Candles
2007 28” x 40”
Chupah
2007 28” x 40”
Challah
2007 40” x 28”
Shofar
2007 40” x 28”
The Ancient Gefilte Fish Icon
2007 40” x 28”
Mazalot
This series depicts the signs of the Zodiac, according to the Tribes of Israel and the precious stone of each tribe found on the sacred breastplate worn by the Kohan Gadol (High Priest). The breastplate was used for communication with G-d. Also shown is the Hebrew month of the year and the tribe’s name.
