Carol Cauldwell
Over the years, Carol Cauldwell has developed a solid reputation and a large global following for her whimsical sculptures that evoke a nostalgic desire in each of us for a more innocent world where dreams become reality. Her works adorn numerous important private collections on most continents. Born in Germiston in 1968, Carol 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 acquired a diploma 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 over 4,000 units per day for store chains.
As part of a journey of self-discovery and healing, Carol turned to iconography and painted numerous icons and two orthodox churches, which she adorned with stylized motifs and iconography, but throughout this period, she aspired to work in 3 dimensions. In 2011, she made the decision to realize her lifelong dream: to start sculpting in wax and bronze, and this has remained her primary objective ever since. The enormous discipline required to manage a factory creating over 4,000 hand-painted ceramics per day gave Carol the necessary skills to become one of the most prolific artists in South Africa, with exceptional concentration and a work rhythm. The style of her works has been described as 'magical realism'.
Carol enjoys pushing the boundaries in terms of design and materials, which led her to decide to open her own foundry. 'Creating art is for me a healing process. It allows me to try to cope with the myriad 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, wordplay, nursery rhymes, illustrations, and icons to deconstruct and comment on issues of injustice in its various forms. Although I have worked and continue to work with different mediums, I am passionate about bronze and love its permanence and durability.' - Carol Cauldwell.
The artist's works
