HELMUT STARKE
(1935 - 2017, Germany)

Helmut Starcke was born in Offenbach, West Germany. He completed his apprenticeship at the Werbekunst Publicity Studio, Frankfurt. He then joined J Walter Thompson, Frankfurt, as a Graphic designer. After this, he moved to Cape Town and worked with P N Barrett Advertising, Cape Town and Lindsay Smithers (Cape) Pty Advertising, Cape Town. His first one-man exhibition of paintings, was in Cape Town.

Starcke then joined Marketing Promotions Inc. He was selected for the Venice Biennale in 1964. He had another one-man exhibition at the Lindchi Gallery, Johannesburg. He participated in the "Contrast" exhibition of drawings opposite paintings by Stanley Pinker, Cape Town.

Starcke was a founder member of the Artists´ Gallery, Cape Town. He was again selected for the Venice Biennale in 1966. He participated in the first South African Breweries Exhibition and received a Bronze Medal for his painting "Social Page".

He once again had a one-man exhibition at the Lindchi Gallery, Johannesburg, and one at the Artists´ Gallery, Cape Town. He also collaborated with Kevin Atkinson and Richard Wake on an environmental project.

Starcke then started own Graphic Design Studio and participated in the second South African Breweries Exhibition. This time, he was awarded a Silver Medal for his painting "Firebird". He also participated in a metal sculpture on Green Market Square, Cape Town. He was selected for the Sao Paulo Biennale. He was also invited to teach Graphic Design at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, after which he was appointed a full-time staff member at the Michaelis School of Fine Art.

Starcke has published a Portfolio of 5 screenprints entitled "haystacks", and contributed to the portfolio entitled "Cape Town in Image and Words", published by Fine Art Folios.

Other one-man exhibitions were held at Fabian Fine Art Gallery, Cape Town, the University of Stellenbosch, the Irma Stern Museum (entitled "Time and Nature of Photographic Information"), the SA Association of Arts, Cape Town, the Everard Read Gallery and Vita Art Now Exhibition and The Johannesburg Art Gallery. Helmut Starcke lives and works in Betty's Bay, Western Cape.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2013
Elegies to a Slender Scrub, CIRCA on Jellicoe, Johannesburg, South Africa

1991
Solo, Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

1988
Solo, SA Association of Arts, Cape Town, South Africa

1983
Time and Nature of Photographic Information, Irma Stern Museum, University of Cape Town, South Africa

1978
One man exhibition, Fabian Fine Art Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

1977
One man exhibition, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa

1966
One man exhibition, Lindchi Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

1965
One man exhibition, Artists’ Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

1964
One man exhibition, Lindchi Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2010
Index 40: Leading Works from the Sanlam Art Collection, Smac Art Gallery, Stellenbosch, South Africa

2007
Abstract South African Art from the Isolation Years: Part 1, Smac Art Gallery, Stellenbosch, South Africa

2003
Contact Zones - Colonial & Contemporary, Stevenson, Cape Town, South Africa

1990
Vita Art Now Exhibition, The Johannesburg Art Gallery,Johannesburg, South Africa

1969
Contrast exhibition of drawings opposite paintings by Stanley Pinker, Cape Town, South Africa

1964
Selected for Venice Biennale, Italy

1965
Selected for Venice Biennale, Italy

1963
Selected for Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil

ADVERTISING AND TEACHING

1973
Appointed a full-time staff member at the Michaelis School of Fine Art

1967
Joined Lindsay Smithers (Cape) Pty Advertising, Cape Town, South Africa

1966
Joined Marketing Promotions Inc, South Africa
Founder member of the Artists’ Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

1962
Started own Graphic Design Studio, South Africa

1958
P N Barrett Advertising, Cape Town, South Africa

1955
Joined J Walter Thompson, Frankfurt, as a Graphic designer, South Africa

1950
Apprenticeship at Werbekunst Publicity Studio, Frankfurt, Germany