I credit international abstract artist and art mentor Louise Fletcher for my deep dive journey into painting. Because of her and our international Art Tribe, 2019 and 2020 developed into a phenomenally creative time in my artistic development.
VIEW LATEST CONTEMPORY ARTWORK
BIOGRAPHY
Ceramic maker and fine artist Trayci Tompkins trained in Theater Crafts and Performing Arts before a well-loved career in print media. But it was the life of the artist that was to become her passion after she took a course with acclaimed London based Sudanese potter Mo Abdalla in London. Tompkins always knew that clay, and now paint, would become her way of expressing a narrative. Something that has become a thread through all her artwork.
Since establishing the South African trademarked brand Zulu Lulu and creating the iconic ‘The Dlamini Collection’ back in 2003, Tompkins has grown her career as an independent ceramic artist. Throughout her career she has empowered the lives of others through sustainable employment and contributed to the continued success of Art makers by establishing and curating an acclaimed Fine Art Gallery in the KZN Midlands.
In 2018 she sold the Zulu Lulu brand and Art Gallery and now, in 2021 has past the iconic Dlamini brand baton on to a new custodian.. All this in order to focus back on developing her own artistic journey . In 2019 Tompkins was awarded the Premier Prize for ceramics from Ceramics Southern Africa KZN. And is now represented in the prestigious Corobrick Collection housed in the Pretoria Arts Museum, South Africa.
After 20 years of successful exhibitions and a healthy following for her statement ceramics, Tompkins is incorporating semi abstract art into her studio mix.
It is with this rich tapestry of experience, entrepreneurial spirit and love of storytelling that inspire the artists’ ceramics, painting, blog posts and magazine articles. .
ARTIST STATEMENT
I was born to be a maker, a traveller and a storyteller… It is through these things that I find inspiration for my art. Although I work intuitively when I paint, there is always an underlying narrative and layering that engages me, inviting the viewer to step in closer.
PUBLIC ART COLLECTIONS
Corobrick Collection, Pretoria Arts Museum, South Africa
GALLERY AFFILITATIONS
Zulu lulu Gallery, Midlands, South Africa
Art of Africa Gallery, High Wycombe, United Kingdom
Clarens Treasure Box Gallery, Clarens
SOLO EXHIBITIONS – CERAMICS
- 2004 West Gallery Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS – CERAMICS
- 1995 Association of Potters Southern Africa
- 1996 Association of Potters Southern Africa Merit Award
- 2000 Association of Potters Southern Africa
- 2001 Association of Potters Southern Africa Merit Award
- 2002 Association of Potters Southern Africa
- 2003 Association of Potters Southern Africa
- 2015 Ceramics Southern Africa KZN Merit Award
- 2016 Ceramics Southern Africa Gauteng – Selection Judge
- 2017 Ceramics Southern Africa Gauteng – Invited artist
- 2019 Ceramics Southern Africa KZN Premier Award
GROUP EXHIBITIONS – CERAMICS
- 1998 Art in the Park, Pietermaritzburg
- 1999 Art in the Park, Pietermaritzburg
- 1999 Bordeaux Street Gallery, Franschhoek
- 1999 Art Expo, Cottage Framers Gallery, Hilton
- 2000 Art in the Park, Pietermaritzburg
- 2001 Art in the Park, Pietermaritzburg
- 2002 Art in the Park, Pietermaritzburg
- 2002 Art @ Wedgewood, Hilton
- 2003 Art Al Fresco, Nottingham Road
- 2003 Art in the Park, Pietermaritzburg
- 2003 Art @ Wedgewood, Hilton
- 2004 Art Al Fresco, Nottingham Road
- 2004 Art in the Park, Pietermaritzburg
- 2004 Art @ Wedgewood, Hilton
- 2004 Decadence Art Expo, Midlands
- 2004 Shining Stars Exhibition, NSA Gallery, Durban
- 2004 ART & FOOD exhibition, MACS Gallery, Pietermaritzburg
- 2005 Art in the Park, Pietermaritzburg
- 2005 Nineteen Degrees Gallery, Hilton
- 2005 Fired Earth, Indigo Fields Gallery, Midlands
- 2005 55 Teapots, Johan Smit Gallery, Clarens
- 2005 Summer Show, Art of Africa Gallery, United Kingdom
- 2006 Decorex, Durban
- 2006 Art in the Park, Pietermaritzburg
- 2006 Decorex, Johannesburg
- 2006 Art @ Wedgewood, Hilton
- 2007 PMB Personalities @ NSA gallery, Durban
- 2007 KIZO Art Gallery, Umhlanga
- 2007 Art in the Park, Pietermaritzburg
- 2008 Decorex, Johannesburg
- 2009 Decorex, Johannesburg
- 2010 Showcase Exhibition, ZULU LULU Gallery, Midlands
- 2011 3 Non Blondes, Hilton Arts Festival, Hilton
- 2012 3 Non Blondes, Hilton Arts Festival, Hilton
- 2013 3 Non Blondes, Hilton Arts Festival, Hilton
- 2014 Meander Showcase, Hilton Arts Festival, Hilton
- 2015 Meander Showcase, Hilton Arts Festival, Hilton
- 2017 Heritage Exhibition, ZULU LULU Galley, Midlands
- 2018 Summer Show, Art of Africa Gallery, United Kingdom
- 2018 FynArts, Hermanus Arts Festival, Hermanus
- 2020 FynArts, Hermanus Arts Festival, Hermanus
GROUP EXHIBITIONS – PAINTING
- 2020 Virtual Exhibitions – New Art for you / Hilton Arts Festival
- 2020 Collective Exhibit, SKEW SPACE Gallery, Karkloof, KZN
- 2022 Lansdown Art Studios – Open studios, Cheltenham, UK
- 2023 Spring Gallery – Montpellier, Cheltenham, Uk
- 2023 Cheltenham Open Studios – Lansdown Art Studios, Cheltenham, UK