Carol Cauldwell
Over the years, CAROL CAULDWELL has developed a solid reputation and a large global audience for her whimsical sculptures that appeal to the nostalgic desire in each of us for a more innocent world in which dreams become reality. Her works adorn many important private collections on most continents. Carol was born in Germiston in 1968 and grew up in the picturesque setting of Magaliesburg. Inspired by her father's love of art, she joined the Johannesburg School of Art, Ballet, Drama and Music, initially specializing in music until she specialized in art. She obtained a degree in ceramics from WITS Technicon where she excelled in sculpture. This led her to create a pottery studio in Magaliesburg, which later transformed into a factory in Modderfontein that eventually hand-painted more than 4,000 units per day for chain stores.
As part of a journey of self-discovery and healing, Carol turned to iconography and painted numerous icons and two Orthodox churches which she covers with stylized motifs and iconography, but throughout this period, she yearned for 3-dimensional work. In 2011, she made the decision to realize her lifelong dream: to start sculpting in wax and bronze, and this has remained her main focus ever since. The enormous discipline required to manage a factory creating more than 4,000 hand-painted ceramics per day has given Carol the skills to become one of South Africa's most prolific artists, with exceptional concentration and work ethic. The style of her works has been described as "magical realism."
Carol likes to push boundaries in terms of design and materials, which led her to decide to open her own foundry. "Creating works of art is a healing process for me. It allows me to try to deal with the myriad of injustices we face every day. My sculptures take a critical look at social, political and cultural issues, treating them in an almost sarcastic, satirical and humorous way. I use fairy tales, fantasy, puns, nursery rhymes, illustrations and icons to deconstruct and comment on issues of injustice in its various forms. Even though I have worked and continue to work in different mediums, I am passionate about bronze and I love its permanence and durability.", CAROL CAULDWELL.
The artist's works
