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eventREF E-0011294Revised

Event record

Walter Battiss is born in Somerset East

Date
6 Jan 1906
Updated
30 Sep 2019
Walter Battiss is born in Somerset East

Walter Battiss is born in Somerset East to an English Methodist family in 1906. He became one of South Africa's first and most important abstract painters. He first became interested in archaeology and primitive art as a young boy after moving to Koffiefontein in 1917, and drew and painted since childhood. His formal art studies started in 1929 at the Wits Tech Art School (drawing and painting), followed by the Johannesburg Training College (a Teacher's Diploma) and etching lessons. Battiss continued his studies while working as a magistrate's clerk, and finally obtained his Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts at UNISA at the age of 35. On 24 October 1981, the Walter Battiss Art Gallery at Somerset East was officially opened. Battiss died in 1982.

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How we know this

  1. 01The Karoo Heartland, (2013), ‘Somerset East - Walter Battiss Art Gallery’, from The Karoo Heartland, [online], Available at www.karooheartland.com [Accessed: 23 August 2011]
  2. 02South African History Online, Walter Battiss, from SAHO, [online], Available at www.sahistory.org.za [Accessed: 04 December 2013]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Walter Battiss is born in Somerset East. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011294

South African History Online (2011) 'Walter Battiss is born in Somerset East', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011294 (Accessed: 5 August 2026).

South African History Online, Walter Battiss is born in Somerset East [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011294, (accessed 5 August 2026).

"Walter Battiss is born in Somerset East." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011294. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Walter Battiss is born in Somerset East." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011294.

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