Carl Roberts South African , b. 1957

“The emphasis is on “magic, accident, irrational, symbols and dreams.”

Carl Roberts is a master craftsman and sought after visual artist who gently massages natural materials such as bone, wood, and stone to expose the hidden message in their form, patina, grain and textures.

Carl has a way of letting the collective unconscious guide his work. He credits himself as an ‘automatic artist’ allowing the thoughts and themes attributed to his work to come through after their creation. As a result, his work is often seen as surrealist, irrational and dream-like. They entertain, engage and invite and provoke thought. They are naturally ambiguous, layered and undefined, allowing observers the pleasure of unravelling their secrets.

During his formative years, he was often unsettled, dealing with numerous deaths, divorces and disruptions. He managed to channel this chaotic energy into sculpture: a creative outlet for all of the destructive energy swirling through his life.

Carl has been practising and perfecting his practice since 1995 on a full time basis. He has exhibited extensively both in South Africa and internationally and his works grace numerous important private, corporate and public collections.

These include the Durban Art Gallery, Pretoria Art Museum, Oliewenhuis Art Gallery, Rhodes University Collection and Absa Bank Collection amongst numerous others. His sculptures have found their way into many private collections in more than eighteen countries on all five continents.

Carl lives and works in KwaZulu-Natal.