WILLIAM LOTTERING
Visual Artist and Playwright
This site shows portfolios of work by William Lottering from 1975 to the present. It provides information about events, exhibitions and images of past projects, how to commission an artwork, as well as information about the visual arts in general. William Lottering's LookingGlass Studio is located in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. Copyright of all images and written work is held by the artist and may not be used or reproduced without permission.
BIOGRAPHY
William Lottering: Artist and Playwright
William Lottering grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa. At an early age, he was enrolled in extra-curricular art classes at the Johannesburg College of Art and Design and in private drama lessons. Learning from respected practising arts professionals proved to be a life-long advantage; for example, he was taught painting by the Swiss artist Alice van Arckel and his drama teacher was the South African actor Miems de Bruyn. Another influence was the artist Nico Van Rensburg, principal of the Johannesburg College of Art and Design. As teenager, William participated in art exhibitions and drama competitions and drew regular monthly cartoons for the youth magazine Patrys.
After graduating from the University of Pretoria, William was approached by South African painter Bettie Cilliers-Barnard to join her installation team at the South African Association of the Arts. Installing art exhibitions bi-weekly, the young artist gained first-hand experience in jurying and gallery installation procedures; principles which he applied throughout his career. William met the drama director Francois Swart, whose intellectual influence and drama philosophy made a lasting impression on him. He spent many hours in the PACT (state drama and opera) workshops, creating sets and props, where he was introduced to the technical aspect of the stage.
William started doing voice dubbing for Afrikaans TV and acted in radio dramas.
As a graduate, William taught life drawing part-time at Pretoria Tshwane University, but his first full-time appointment was in 1980 at the Pretoria Art, Ballet and Music School. Two years later, he was appointed full-time lecturer at the University of Pretoria Fine Arts Faculty, where he was befriended by Mike Edwards, head of the sculptor school, art history professors F.G.E. Nilant and Alex Duffey, and the painter Ernst de Jong. Another influence was one of the most respected avant-garde painters in South Africa, Christo Coetzee. During these years, Lottering juried many art shows and co-organized prominent national art competitions in South Africa, such as the Volkskas Atelier Exhibition and he participated in the New Signatures Exhibition.
Determined to make his mark, William Lottering stepped into the broadcasting world as a radio announcer and producer at the SABC. At Radio Suid-Afrika, he created and presented arts programmes, wrote scripts, read news, conducted interviews, provided voice for TV and advertising, produced documentaries and directed over 200 radio dramas. The buzzing world of Radio Suid-Afrika, a national broadcaster, moulded the young artist into ‘a hands-on intellectual’. On the air, he presented a nationwide arts calendar and became a regular presenter at TV4. Expanding his activities, William regularly critiqued art exhibitions for INSIG, a South African news magazine. William refers to his broadcasting period as ‘probably the most exciting and influential time of my career.’ Apart from countless radio texts and a novel, Lottering has written nine plays. In the 1980's, William participated in regular excursions to Namibia, where the artist met prominent South African poets, painters, authors and scientists. Their exchanges had an significant impact on his artistic path and philosophy, which approached the landscape as a document.
When William moved to Canada in 1992, he resumed his role as educator. With a rich background in art and drama, he became an arts program head at the York Region District School Board. William’s first department was in the town of Sutton where, in 1997, he directed an arts project in collaboration with the Indigenous people of Georgina Island, Sutton DHS students and the local Georgina community. This project led to interrelated events such as plays, storytelling, writing, video and digital projects that lasted the full year. The culminating public installation was erected in town, proudly inaugurated during a provincial Indigenous Pow-Wow.
As program head, William organized art events and festivals, and chaired arts committees. He was a co-director of ArtFun and Fantasy Day Camp, a York Region Arts Camp instructor between 1992-2016, and taught at the Haliburton School of the Arts in the summers of 1998 -2004. He enjoyed designing sets and lighting for plays and musicals in his musical theatre course titled 'Exploring the Arts'. For a decade, his public contribution was co-organizing an annual volunteer graffiti clean-up with York Region Police, the Town of Aurora, and local secondary school students.
From 2014, Lottering worked as arts curriculum consultant for the York Region District School Board. This position provided him with an overview of the arts in York Region public schools, when he supported school administrations with planning and facilitating arts programs, designed and implemented arts curriculum and supported teachers in Visual Arts, Dance and Drama. During this time, Lottering organized large-scale integrated arts events such as a two-year long commemoration of the Centenary of the Great War, and on the organizing committee of the annual international Quest Education Conference, he coordinated student experimental arts projects and art displays.
William Lottering's artworks are regularly displayed in exhibitions and other events. Recently, he has been prioritizing his studio practice, although he still teaches painting and life drawing, writes more dramatic works, gives talks about contemporary art and regularly travels for research. Lottering's work is represented in public collections and commissions in South Africa and Canada. He is a member of Propeller Art Collective in Toronto and the Playwrights Guild of Canada.
LIST OF EXHIBITIONS AND OTHER WORKS
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2024 Propeller Art Gallery, Toronto
2023 Newmarket Artwalk
2023 Double Door Gallery, Anten Mills, Ontario
2022 Old Town Hall Gallery Newmarket, Ontario
2021 Pretoria Art Museum - canceled due to Covid-19 Lockdown
2017 Images Studio Tour, Oro-Medonte, Ontario
2016 Images Studio Tour, Oro-Medonte, Ontario
2015 InnIsfil Studio Tour, Ontario
2014 Innisfil Studio Tour, Ontario
2014 Parchment Pieces, Aurora Cultural Centre Ontario
2004 University of Pretoria Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
1998 Red Barn Theatre, Sutton, Ontario, Canada
1996 Resurrections, Rosenbaum Wagner Gallery Toronto
1986 SA Arts Association Pretoria, South Africa
1984 Ernst de Jong Gallery Pretoria, South Africa
1984 SA Arts Association Pretoria, South Africa
1983 Ernst de Jong Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
1982 Ernst de Jong Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2025 Letters to the Earth, Old Town Hall Gallery, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
2025 Heart, Mind, Love. Propeller Art Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
2024 Salon Exhibition, Propeller Art Gallery, Toronto Ontario
2023 Letting Go, Art at 395, Newmarket Ontario
2023 Salon Exhibition, Propeller Art Gallery, Toronto Ontario
2023 Newmarket Juried Art exhibition, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
2023 Drawing Exhibition, John.B.Aird Gallery Toronto, Canada
2023 Unframed, Propeller Art Gallery, Toronto, Canada
2023 Newmarket Artists, Art at 395, Newmarket, Ontario
2022 Luxembourg Art Prize merit certificate
2022 Newmarket Artists, Art at 395, Newmarket, Ontario
2022 Newmarket Artists Juried exhibition, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
2022 Newmarket Artwalk, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
2022 All of a Sudden, Propeller Art Gallery Toronto, Canada
2021 Luxembourg Art Prize - merit certificate
2021 Covid Bubble public installation, York Region, Canada
2021 Love in the time of Covid, Georgina Arts Centre Online Exhibition, Canada
2021 Being a Creative in the New Normal, Online Exhibition and conversation, South Africa
2017 Images Studio Tour, Oro-Medonte, Ontario
2016 Images Studio Tour, Oro-Medonte, Ontario
2016 WWI Centenary Exhibition, York Region Administration Centre, Newmarket, Ontario
2016 WWI Centenary Exhibition, Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts, Richmond Hill, Ontario
2015 International Artists Exhibition, Alliance Francaise South Africa
2011 York Region Art Instructors Exhibition, Aurora Cultural Centre, Aurora, Ontario
2009 Two works into the Pelmama Collection at Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria South Africa
2009 Meeting People, with Frank Smith, Georgina Arts Centre, Ontario
2008 2 Portraits, Mount Albert, Ontario
2007 Peck House, Newmarket Ontario with Gavin Lottering and Julienne Lottering
2007 Portrait Exhibition, Georgina Arts Centre, Ontario
2003 Instructors Show, Rail Gallery, Haliburton, Ontario
2002 Instructors Show Rail Gallery, Haliburton, Ontario
2000 Instructors Show Rail Gallery, Haliburton, Ontario
1999 Peck House, Newmarket Ontario with Deline de Klerk
1998 York Region Artists, Varley Gallery, Unionville Ontario
1997 Toronto Artists, The Candy Factory, Toronto, Ontario
1997 Ten Boxes, Angell Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
1997 Contact ‘97 Exhibition - Xcavations, Dufferin Mall, Toronto, Ontario
1997 YRBE show, Aurora, Ontario
1996 World Aids Day: A World without Art, McMichael Gallery, Kleinburg, Ontario
1995 YRBE show, Aurora, Ontario
1991 South African Artists, SA Arts Association Pretoria, South Africa
1990 South African Artists, Gallery 21 Johannesburg
1990 Works on Loan at SA Arts Association Pretoria, South Africa
1990 WOMAN by South African Artists, SA Arts Association Pretoria
1989 Arts Alive, WHPS Pretoria, South Africa
1989 Innes Aab Tamsen Bursary Exhibition, University of Pretoria Gallery, South Africa
1989 Pretoria Artists, Café Riche Gallery Pretoria, South Africa
1989 Gallery 21 with Deline de Klerk, Pretoria, South Africa
1988 Mysticism, Aleta Micheletos Gallery, Pretoria South Africa
1988 South African Art, The Art House, Johannesburg, South Africa
1987 Art lecturers’ Exhibition, University of Pretoria, South Africa
1987 Arts Alive, WHPS Pretoria, South Africa
1987 Gildehuys Gallery Pretoria, South Africa, with Deline de Klerk
1986 Arts Alive, WHPS Pretoria, South Africa
1986 Pretoria Artists, University of Pretoria Gallery, South Africa
1986 Past Lecturers, Technikon Pretoria Gallery, South Africa
1986 Nudes, Aleta Micheletos Gallery Pretoria, South Africa
1986 Festival of Pretoria Artists, SA Arts Association Pretoria, South Africa
1986 Finalist, Volkskas National Atelier Exhibition, Pretoria, South Africa
1986 Gallery 21 Johannesburg, South Africa, with Isak de Villiers and Pieter Roux
1985 Arts Alive, WHPS Pretoria, South Africa
1985 University of Pretoria Festival Exhibition, South Africa
1985 Gallery Artists, Aleta Micheletos Gallery Pretoria, South Africa
1985 Gallery 21 with Deline de Klerk, Pretoria, South Africa
1985 South African Artists, Ateljee Cabo Cape Town, South Africa
1985 SAAA Group, SA Arts Association Gallery Pretoria, South Africa
1985 SAAA, Christmas Exhibition, Pretoria, South Africa
1984 South African Art, Aleta Micheletos Gallery Pretoria, South Africa
1984 Ex-students, University of Pretoria Gallery, South Africa
1984 University of Potchefstroom Gallery, South Africa, with Deline de Klerk
1984 South African Artists, City Hall Gallery Klerksdorp, South Africa
1984 Transvaal Artists, Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria, South Africa
1984 Gallery artists Ernst de Jong Gallery Pretoria, South Africa
1984 Finalist Cape Town Triennial, South Africa
1983 Pretoria Group SA Arts Association Pretoria, South Africa
1983 SA Artists, Gallery 21 Johannesburg
1983 Pretoria Artists, Aleta Micheletos Gallery Pretoria, South Africa
1982 University of Pretoria Group Show, University Gallery
1982 South African Art, Ernst de Jong Gallery Pretoria, South Africa
1981 Ernst de Jong Gallery Pretoria, South Africa, with Deline de Klerk and Balthi du Plessis
1981 American and South African Art, Ernst de Jong Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
1980 University of Pretoria Student Exhibition, Anton van Wouw House Gallery, Pretoria, SA
1980 Alumni work, Merensky Library Gallery, University of Pretoria, South Africa
1978 New Signatures Exhibition, SA Arts Association Pretoria, South Africa
1977 New Signatures Exhibition, SA Arts Association Pretoria, South Africa
AWARDS
2022 Luxembourg Prize certificate of merit
2021 Luxembourg Prize certificate of merit
2011 Gold, York Region Art Instructors Exhibition, Aurora, Ontario
1984 Finalist, Cape Town Triennial
1986 Finalist, Volkskas Atelier Exhibition, Pretoria, South Africa
2000 Applaud award, YRDSB, Ontario
PUBLIC COMMISSIONS/PAINTINGS
2004 Mural - Discover, for Aurora HS Auditorium
2003 Mural - Life, Southlake Regional Health Centre, Newmarket
2002 Mural - Villa Risi, Newmarket, Ontario
1989 Murals - 8 waiting rooms, Germiston Hospital, Germiston, South Africa
1989 Mural - Conversion of St. Paul, Hatfield Christian Community Centre, South Africa
1989 Mural - Tree of Life, in the Chapel of Hatfield Christian Community Centre, South Africa
PUBLIC SCULPTURES
2002 Dr.John Denison Bust, Newmarket, Ontario
2001 The Millennium Site Project, Aurora, Ontario
1998,99 The Totem Project, Sutton, Ontario
1996 Siegfried Mynhardt Bust for Adcock Ingram Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa
REPRESENTED IN THE FOLLOWING SOUTH AFRICAN COLLECTIONS:
DEVCON, Development Bank of South Africa, Wits Theatre, TOTAL and PELMAMA
REPRESENTED IN THE FOLLOWING SOUTH AFRICAN PUBLIC ART GALLERIES:
Pretoria Art Museum and Bloemfontein Art Museum
REFERENCES
2022 Playwrights Guild of Canada
2023 Propeller Art Collective - website
2021 Youtube interview with Thea Van Schalkwyk on Being a Creative in the New Normal
2021 Youtube interview on novel "Emigrant Immigrant"
2021 Interview on RSG with Hennie Maas on Immigration, 2020
2019 10 interviews with Martin Jansen on Radio Pretoria FM
2018 Interview on Millennium 2001 Sculpture - on Channel 10 Rogers Cable Newmarket, Ontario
1990 Radio Interview with Tinus de Villiers on Radio Suid-Afrika
1986 Interview, Arts Calendar on TV1 South Africa
1983 Articles in South African Arts Calendar
Articles in Huisgenoot, Insig,
Dictionary of South African Painters and Sculptors (Ogilvy),
Art and Artists in South Africa (Berman)
HAPPENINGS
1996 Provincial Pow Wow - inauguration of the Totem Project, Sutton, Ontario
1990 The Message, Pretoria, South Africa
1989 Human Ecology, Pretoria, South Africa
1989 Sound Expression, Johannesburg, South Africa
1984 Archeological Find, Johannesburg, South Africa
1982 Colour Field, Johannesburg, South Africa
SET DESIGN
2008 The Boy friend, AHS
2006 Anything Goes! AHS
2004 Oliver! AHS
1997 Servant of two masters, SDHS
1996 Guernica, SDHS
1995 Brigadoon, SDHS
1994 A Midsummer Night’s Dream, SDHS
1993 The Wiz, SDHS
AUTHOR
Novel:
2020 Emigrant Immigrant (Afrikaans)
Plays:
2025 The Painter
2024 Camping with Bob
2023 Rules of the Road
2023 Our Yard
2021 In Between
2020 Friday 13th
1988 Die Graf van Abie Tobias
1987 Bushalte (2021: End of the Line)
1986 Die Dam (2022: The Dam)