Kim Donaldson

Forty years of traveling the wilderness areas of Africa do classify Kim as an adventurer. This ongoing journey has resulted in some of the purest art to ever come from this continent and Kim prides himself in the respect he has earned from his fellow artists. The life he has chosen has not brought him wealth simply because he measures success at a different level. Artist, sculptor and published author are but a few titles he can lay claim to but he does so without boasting and self-promotion.

For 30 years Kim’s artwork has been exhibited in some of the most prestigious galleries in Europe, Britain and the United States. Fellow exhibitors have included the most celebrated artists of our time. Typical of his nature to go quietly through life, the South African art community did not, unfortunately, share in his success abroad. Although he resided in America for many years, he never left his homeland, returning every year for extended safaris to different wilderness areas. His highly acclaimed and award winning book, Africa: An Artist’s Journal, was a direct result of these travels. He worked on another book on the tribes of Africa for several years which saw him travelling to the most remote areas across the continent. Sadly, the book was never completed as many of the tribes were becoming westernized and only dressed traditionally for financial gain. The situation tainted the object of the publication and Kim felt it necessary to drop the project.

Now residing in Franschhoek, Kim feels a strong connection with the quaint village as this is where his forefathers made their start in Africa. He has opened an art gallery in the center of the town and the majority of his art is now only available at his own gallery.

The artistic variation of his work illustrates Kim’s need to diversify and challenge himself. The majority of artists work to a formula but Kim does not feel he has to restrict himself to one style or medium. Equally comfortable in oils, acrylics, pastels and three dimensional artworks, he will use any of these mediums to full effect and for any subject matter. The application too can vary from realistic to contemporary and all styles that fall in between. Although considered by many to be a wildlife artist, Kim does not like this classification as he considers himself to be a painter of Africa. It just so happens that he is attracted to the birds, beasts, people and wilds of Africa and could not care less about the continent’s politics or the need to make political statements through his art.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
14 one man exhibitions – South Africa – 1976 to 1986
Godalming Galleries – United Kingdom – 1986
Everard Read Gallery – Johannesburg, South Africa – 1987
Read Stremmel Gallery – San Antonio, Texas – 1988
Tryon Gallery; African Wildlife Impressions – London, United Kingdom – 1989
Everard Read Gallery – Johannesburg, South Africa – 1989
Quay Gallery – United Kingdom – 1989
Halcyon Gallery; Africa through the Seasons – Birmingham, United Kingdom – 1990
Tryon Gallery; Wilderness Impressions – London, United Kingdom – 1991
Everard Read Gallery – Johannesburg, South Africa – 1991
Halcyon Gallery; Impressions of Africa – Birmingham, United Kingdom – 1992
Bedford Gallery – Johannesburg, South Africa – 1993
Halcyon Gallery ICC – Birmingham, United Kingdom – 1994
Call of Africa Gallery – Fort Lauderdale, Florida – 1995
Call of Africa Gallery – Fort Lauderdale, Florida – 1996
Halcyon Gallery; “Africa, An Artist’s Journal” Book Launch – London, United Kingdon – 2002
Call of Africa Gallery; After the Journal – Fort Lauderdale, Florida – 2003
Halcyon Gallery; Spirit of Africa – London, United Kingdom – 2005

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
16 group exhibitions South Africa 1976 to 1983
SA Watercolour Association Durer House, Germany 1979
SA Watercolour Association London, United Kingdom 1979
Safari Club Internation Las Vegas, Nevada 1982
King Gallery New York, United States 1983
Everard Read Gallery; Spring Exhibition Johannesburg, South Africa 1984
Everard Read Gallery; Wildlife Artists of the World Johannesburg, South Africa 1985
Colmore Galleries United Kingdom 1986
Everard Read Gallery; Wildlife International ‘86 Johannesburg, South Africa 1986
Godalming Galleries United Kingdom 1987
Everard Read Gallery; Wildlife International ‘88 Johannesburg, South Africa 1988
Tryon Gallery; Wildlife Artists of the World London, United Kingdom 1988
Mzuri Wildlife Foundation San Francisco, California 1988
Everard Read Gallery; Works by Artists of “The Kill” Book Johannesburg, South Africa 1989
Quay Gallery; Elefriends United Kingdom 1990
Tryon Gallery; Dawn to Dusk London 1990
Halyon Gallery Selfridges, London, UK 1990
Forrest Gallery Guildford, United Kingdom 1991
Prestige Gallery Ontario, Canada 1992
Call of Africa Gallery Fort Lauderdale, Florida 1992
Mzuri Wildlife Foundation; Big Event San Francisco, California 1992
Call of Africa Gallery; Masters of Wildlife Art Fort Lauderdale, Florida 1994
Tryon Gallery; Ex Africa Semper Aliquid Novi London, United Kingdom 1994
Halcyon Gallery ICC, Birmingham, United Kingdom 1995
The Houston Museum of Natural Science Houston, Texas 1995
Painswick House; Wildfowl and Wetlands London, United Kingdom 1995
Halcyon Gallery ICC, Birmingham, United Kingdom 1997
Holland & Holland; Wildlife Artists of the World London, United Kingdom 1997
Halcyon Gallery; Wildlife and Conservation London, United Kingdom 2001
Halcyon Gallery; Wildlife and Conservation London, United Kingdom 2002
Halcyon Gallery; Art of Living Harrods, London, UK 2003
Call of Africa Gallery; Africa to the Everglades Fort Lauderdale, Florida 2004
Halcyon Gallery; Mara Migration London, United Kingdom 2005
Halcyon Gallery; Wildlife 2006 ICC, Birmingham, United Kingdom 2006
Halcyon Gallery London, United Kingdom 2007
Leigh Yawkey; Birds in Art 2008