The Gilded Woman I, 2023

Ilené Bothma  

Ilené Bothma is a Cape Town based multi-disciplinary artist. Her work starts with an idea, after which the medium follows, be it painting, textiles, sculpture, photography, or video. She revels in her exploration of notions around intimacy, family, grief, loss, and the human condition. She received a BA in Fine Art (with distinction) in 2003 and an MA in Fine Art in 2007 from Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Bothma advanced her studies in England with a second MA in Fine Art (with distinction) in 2011 from Northumbria University in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, United Kingdom.

Ilené began exhibiting as a student. Her work has regularly featured in exhibitions locally and abroad since 2000. Bothma has had ten solo exhibitions in her career, with her work presented at both the Turbine Art Fair and Investec Cape Town Art Fair, including a solo booth at last year's Turbine Art Fair.

Ilené has been a finalist in numerous national art competitions, with nominations in Sasol New Signatures 2007, Vuleka Art Competition 2012, and Barclays L'Atelier 2016. Her work forms part of private and public collections, including the M&C Saatchi Abel Art Collection and the Art Bank of South Africa. An article written about her practice titled, , by Irene Bronner, senior lecturer at the University of Johannesburg, provides an in-depth overview of various aspects of Ilené's art practice thus far.