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Irma Stern was born on October 2, 1894 in Schweizer-reneke, North-West, South Africa, of German-Jewish parents. Her father, Samuel Stern, was interned in a concentration camp by the British during the South African War because of his pro-Boer leanings. Irma and her younger brother, Rudi, were thus taken to Cape Town by their mother, Henny (Fels) Stern. After the war, the family returned to Germany and constant traveled.
In 1913 Stern studied art in Germany at the Weimar Academy. However, being unsatisfied at the Weimar Academy, she left for Berlin to study at the Levin-Funcke Studio in 1914. Moreover, it was Max Pechstein who helped her discover her talents.
Irma Stern held her first exhibition in Berlin in 1916. In 1920 Stern returned to Cape Town with her family where she was first derided and dismissed as an artist before becoming an established artist by the 1940s.
Irma Stern traveled extensively in Europe and explored Southern Africa, Zanzibar and the Congo region. These trips provided a wide range of subject matter for her paintings and gave her opportunities to acquire and assemble a collection of artifacts.
She moved into a house named "The Firs" in Rondebosch, Cape Town, in 1927 and lived there until her death.
Besides, Stern traveled extensively in South Africa, for example in 1926 to Swaziland and Pondoland, in 1933 to Namaqualand, in 1936 generally, and in 1941 to the Eastern Cape. In 1931 she visited Madeira and Dakar, Senegal, in 1937 and 1938. Irma Stern refused to either travel or exhibit in Germany during the period 1933-1945. Instead, she undertook several journeys into Africa; going to Zanzibar twice in 1939 and 1945 and then planned three trips to the Congo region in 1942, 1946 and 1955. These expeditions resulted in a wealth of artistic creativity and energy as well as the publication of two illustrated journals; "Congo" published in 1943 and "Zanzibar" in 1948.
Almost one hundred solo exhibitions were held during her lifetime both in South Africa and Europe: including Germany, France, Italy and United Kingdom.
Irma Stern died on August 23, 1966 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Irma Stern was best known as a preeminent artist, and once her reputation had been established, she had regular exhibitions, both in Africa and in Europe. Although the bulk of her work is in paintings, she was also a sculptor and ceramic artist.
Perhaps one of the most important artists from South Africa, she was instrumental in changing the outlook of a conservative and staid public with her art. She was awarded the Guggenheim International prize in 1960.
Portrait of a West African girl
Portrait of Helene Kriel
Portrait of a Woman Wearing a Pink Hijab
Still life with African pot
Portrait Of Vera Poppe Playing The Cello
Malay Girl
Bathers
The Bride
Banana Carrier
Portrait of Irma Stern's Mother
Still Life with Leaves, Fruit and Flowers
Still life with hibiscus, angel's trumpets and fruits
Country Road, Madeira
Woman with a Jug
Zanzibar Woman with Chicken
Still Life with Antirrhinums
The Hunt
Congolese Beauty
Umgababa
The Rich Old Arab
An African Woman
Portrait of an Indian woman
Men In Red Fezzes
Portrait of a Young Girl
Watusi policemen
Portrait of a young Mpondo
Still Lfie with Coral Tree Flowers
Berber Girl
Still Life with Dahlias and Fruit
Ballet Dancers
Arab Priest
Fishing Boats
Zanzibar Garden
Portrait of a Young Malay Girl
Black Lilies
Still Life with Lillies
Zanzibar Lady
Portrait of a Pondo Woman
Still life with anthuriums and fruit
Woman with a Hibiscus
Portrait of a Zulu woman
The Initiate
Arab
Young Xhosa woman
Maid in uniform
In 1926 Irma Stern married Dr Johannes Prinz, her former tutor, who subsequently became professor of German at the University of Cape Town. They were divorced in 1934.
Pechstein was an important member of “Die Brücke,” the German Expressionist group.
