Pamela Stretton

Pamela Stretton (born 15 April 1980) is a South African artist whose work deals predominantly with the female body and its commodification, beautification, and role in popular culture. Most of her works are digital ink jet prints that combine photographic images and text; they are composites of barcodes, labels, and advertisements that create a larger image of the female form. The pieces are largely autobiographical, but also carry general themes about popular culture, fashion, health, and food. The painstaking and meticulous creation of each piece references obsessive eating disorders. Similarly, the grid mechanism portrays the pressures of conformity. Her style has been called a female version of Chuck Close.

Education

Stretton received her Bachelor of Fine Art (with distinction) from Rhodes University in 2002 and her Master of Fine Art (with distinction) from the University of Cape Town in 2005.

Exhibitions

• 2002 Rhodes University Graduate Exhibition, Grahamstown
• 2003 Absa L'Atelier, Johannesburg
• 2005 Sanlam Vuleka, Bellville, Cape Town
• 2005 Michaelis School of Fine Art Graduate Exhibition, Cape Town
• 2006 Portrait Exhibition. Association for Visual Arts, Cape Town
• 2006 15th Art Salon at The Bay, The Bay Hotel, Camps Bay, Cape Town
• 2006 The Encoded Body, Association for Visual Arts, Cape Town
• 2006 Winchester Hotel, Cape Town
• 2007 South African Artists, Gallery in Cork Street, London
• 2007 Rust en Vrede Gallery, Durbanville
• 2007 Interwoven/ Intertwined. FNB Private Clients' Art Route, Cultivaria, Paarl (curated by the artist)
• 2007 Surface Tension. The Photographers Gallery, Cape Town
• 2007 16th Art Salon, Rose Korber Art, Camps Bay, Cape Town
• 2007 Spier Contemporary, Stellenbosch, Cape
• 2007 The Encoded Body Series, Gallery on the Square, Sandton, Johannesburg (in collaboration with Rose Korber Art, Cape Town)
• 2008 RE: CM (Regarding Capital Management) Salon Exhibition, Cape Town

Collections

• Katrine Harries Print Cabinet, Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town
• Hollard Insurance, Johannesburg (Private Collection)
• University of South Africa, Pretoria
• Coronation Fund Managers, Stellenbosch, Cape

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