Frances Goodman (born 1975) is a South African mixed-media artist who currently lives in

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and Xhosa language, Xhosa: eGoli ) (colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, Jo'burg or "The City of Gold") is the most populous city in South Africa. With 5,538,596 people in the City of Johannesburg alon ...

. Her work makes use of

acrylic nails Artificial nails, also known as fake nails, false nails, acrylic nails, press ons, nail extensions or nail enhancements, are extensions placed over fingernails as fashion accessories. Many artificial nail designs attempt to mimic the appearance ...

and other unconventional materials and is "interested in the relations between femininity, costuming, and role-playing".

Education

From 1994-1997, Goodman worked on a BA in Fine Arts at the

University of the Witwatersrand The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (), commonly known as Wits University or Wits, is a multi-campus Public university, public research university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg, South Africa. The universit ...

in Johannesburg. She then moved to

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

to attend

Goldsmiths College Goldsmiths, University of London, formerly Goldsmiths College, University of London, is a Member institutions of the University of London, constituent research university of the University of London. It was originally founded in 1891 as The G ...

in 1999, receiving an MA in Fine Arts in 2000. Afterward, she served as a laureate at the Higher Institute for Fine Art in

Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...

, Belgium from 2001 to 2003.

Exhibitions and awards

Goodman has exhibited widely since 2002, with solo and group shows across Europe, North America, and Africa. In 2012, she was a resident at the

International Studio & Curatorial Program International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) is a contemporary art institution that runs an international residency program and related exhibitions and events based in Brooklyn, New York. ISCP's exhibitions, talks, screenings and lectures gen ...

in New York City. She was a recipient of the Cecily Brown Fellowship for Outstanding Woman Artists in 2014. Goodman's work appeared in the exhibition ''I Am . . .Contemporary Women Artists of Africa'' at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African Art from June 2019-April 2022.

Work

Goodman often uses false eyelashes, fake nails, faux pearl earrings, and other "typically feminine" objects to create her sculptures and installations, looking at everyday obsessions and superficial behavior (such as fanatic exercise culture and conventions of marriage and beauty). “Women are often asked to make media-influenced choices about our bodies,” says Goodman. “Fake nails and false eyelashes, though, go against that. You’re able to become expressive, to become someone else. You don’t become the idea of who a woman should be. You become the antithesis.”

References

External links

Artist's website

Article in ''Hi-Fructose Magazine''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Goodman, Frances 1975 births Living people 21st-century South African artists 21st-century South African women artists University of the Witwatersrand alumni Alumni of Goldsmiths, University of London