Notes

Patrick Holo grew up in Cape Town and completed standard 9 at Langabuya High School in 1969. He is the son of Jo Holo, a pianist, and a member of the group Folk Quartet. As a child, he built toys from found objects – wire, tin cans, and bicycle wheel tubes. Holo became a full-time artist in 1974 and he joined the Community Arts Project in 1976. In 1977, he met Cecil Skotnes who encouraged Holo and his brother, Sydney, to begin an arts centre of their own. The following year, under mentorship from Skotnes, the Nyanga Art Centre opened with Holo teaching graphics and sculpture. In 1981, Holo received a scholarship from the Italian Consulate for a year of study in Perugia. He returned to the Nyanga Art Centre after his year in Italy but it had suffered in his absence and the centre was forced to close in 1990 due to lack of funding. Following this, Holo sold his linocuts at St George’s Street Mall. In 2000 he was commissioned by Truworths to create two murals and in 2001 Kwela Books asked him to provide illustrations for Xhosa proverbs. Holo has participated in a number of exhibitions nationally.

Provenance

Donated by John de Gruchy.