About
Walter de Melo Koch is a prolific artist whose work captures the essence and spirit of Africa. Born in Mozambique to a German/Portuguese father and a Portuguese mother, Walter's childhood was immersed in the local culture and customs, which inspired his artistic journey. He was privately educated by a tutor, Dona Natália Rosário, in his hometown of Lourenço Marques, and attended drawing classes at the Núcleo de Arte under António Quadros while on holiday. Studying art under Cecil Skotnes and Graphic Fine Art under Gunther van der Reis at the Pretoria Art School, Walter honed his skills and developed his unique style. His art is characterised by an evocative use of colour and form to capture a sense of depth and movement. Walter draws inspiration from the rural carvings of animals that he encountered during his childhood in Mozambique, seeking to capture their essence and spirit in his animal paintings. Now residing in the UK, Walter's art continues to be recognised, earning him a Highly Commended award from the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists in 2012. His work has made a significant contribution to portraying the beauty and soul of African art, capturing the attention of audiences worldwide.
Walter de Melo Koch was born in Lourenço Marques (now Maputo) in Mozambique to a German/Portuguese father and a Portuguese mother.
1955 – 1963 Privately educated in his home town by tutor Dona Natália Rosário.
1961 – His father passed away.
1963 – 1965 Went to a boarding school is South Africa and while on holiday at home in Lourenço Marques attended drawing classes at the Núcleo de Arte under António Quadros.
1969 Matriculated from Damlin College. Studied art under Cecil Skotnes. Forged a lifetime friendship with Carl Jeppe.
1971 – 1973 Studied Graphic Fine Art under Gunther van der Reis at the Pretoria Art School. UK equivalent BTEC Higher National Diploma /NVQ Level 4
EDUCATION
1970/73 Diploma in Print Making – Pretoria Art School, South Africa. (UK equivalent BTEC Higher National Diploma /NVQ Level 4)
RECENT PRIZES
I received a Highly Commended award from the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists.This award was given to me by Simon Topman, CEO of Acme Whistles, at a Private View held at the RBSA Gallery on Thursday 5 April 2012. The Exhibition ran until Sat 21 April 2012.
I received this award for three works I submitted to the Friends’ Exhibition.
EXHIBITIONS
2019
NOVEMBER 7th to 10th - WOOLWICH CONTEMPORARY PRINT FAIR
Former cartridge factory at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. LONDON
AUGUST 30th to SEPTEMBER 12th - UNFOLD
The Lighthouse, Woking
2018
APRIL 7th to APRIL 21st - HATCH & SPROUT
Fillingdon Fine Art Gallery, Fillingdon Farm, Piddington, High Wycombe, Bucks HP14 3BL, UK
2017
JUNE 1st to 3rd – UNFOLD REFLECT – The Hub, Chertsey, UK
JULY 17th to 29th – SANDED AND SALTED – Summer Show – Fillingdon Fine Art Gallery, Fillingdon Farm, Piddington, High Wycombe, Bucks HP14 3BL, UK
OCTOBER – THE STUDIO GALLERY – Warren Row, UK
NOVEMBER 18th to DECEMBER 2nd – IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS – Winter Show – Fillingdon Fine Art Gallery, Fillingdon Farm, Piddington, High Wycombe, Bucks HP14 3BL, UK
2016
JUNE 4th to 6th – UNFOLD RECYCLED – The Hub, Chertsey, UK
OCTOBER 22nd – THE STUDIO GALLERY OPENING – Warren Row, UK
2015
MAY 2nd to 25th – COVER TO COVER – West Berkshire Museum, The Wharf, Newbury, UK
MAY 2nd to 25th – INSIGHT – The Open Studios Scheme, Newbury, UK
MAY 26th to 30th – UNFOLD – The Hub, Chertsey, UK
JUNE 6th to 13th – SCRUFFY SOUL – Bucks Open Studios, Windsor, UK
SEPTEMBER 26th to OCTOBER 3rd – Windsor Fringe, Windsor, UK
OCTOBER 15th to 18th – THE OTHER ART FAIR – The Old Truman Brewery – London, UK
2014
APRIL – THE OTHER ART FAIR – Ambika P3 – London, UK
JUNE – The Upstairs Gallery, Berkhamsted, UK
SEPTEMBER – Windsor Fringe, Windsor, UK
OCTOBER – THE OTHER ART FAIR – The Old Truman Brewery – London, UK
2013
APRIL – THE OTHER ART FAIR – Ambika P3 – London, UK
JUNE – Art•Marylebone – Contemporary Art Fair Boutique – Hellenic Centre, Marylebone, London
SEPTEMBER – Contemporary Art Belém – Centro Cultural de Belém, Lisboa, Portugal.
SEPTEMBER – Windsor Fringe, Windsor, UK
OCTOBER – THE OTHER ART FAIR – The Old Truman Brewery – London, UK
2012
FEBRUARY – February Private View – DEBUT Contemporary, UK
MARCH – Bertina 1+9 – Hotel Moliceiro, Aveiro, PORTUGAL
MARCH – First Birthday Private View – DEBUT Contemporary
MARCH – March Private View – DEBUT Contemporary, UK
APRIL – Royal Birmingham Society of Artists – Friend’s Exhibition – RBSA, UK
APRIL – Spring Private View – DEBUT Contemporary, UK
APRIL – ALUMNI EXHIBITION – Department of Fine Arts, Tshwane Universaty of Technology, SOUTH AFRICA
APRIL – April Private View – DEBUT Contemporary, UK
MAY – THE OTHER ART FAIR – Ambika P3 – London, UK
MAY – Barcelona Showcase – Casa Batló – Barcelona, SPAIN
MAY – May Private View – DEBUT Contemporary, UK
JULY – Petersfield Museum, The Old Courthouse, Petersfield, UK
SEPTEMBER – Pearls in The Sand -Windsor Fringe, Windsor, UK
NOVEMBER – THE OTHER ART FAIR – Ambika P3 – London, UK
2011
JULY – Banquet of Sight, Sensations and Pleasures – Group Exhibition – Carl Koch & Jean Denison
The Fire Station Gallery, Windsor, UK
DECEMBER – Winter Private View – DEBUT Contemporary
2010 MARCH – Group Exhibition at Galeria Morgados da Pedricosa, Aveiro, Portugal OCTOBER – 15 Exposição
Internacional de Artes Plásticas de Vendas Novas, Portugal
2009
JULY – Exhibition at the Espaço Mercure, Lisboa, Portugal
NOVEMBER – Group Exhibition at the Galeria Bertrand, Aveiro, Portugal
DECEMBER – Group Exhibition at the Galeria de Artes, Sines, Portugal
2008
MARCH– Group Exhibition at the Galeria Bertrand – Aveiro, Portugal
OCTOBER – Group Exhibition at Museu do Café, Rio Maior, Portugal
2007
JULY – Group Exhibition at the Galeria da Capitania de Aveiro, Portugal
2006
MARCH – Ecos de Africa Group Exhibition at the Museu de Viana do Castelo, Portugal
JUNE – Percursos Lusofonos, Group Exhibition at the Bertrand Forum Aveiro, Portugal
2005
JULY – Group Exhibition at the Galeria das Comunidades Portuguesas Lisbon, Portugal
NOVEMBER – Group Exhibition at the Sandton Civic Art Gallery in Sandton, South Africa
2004
JULY – Group Exhibition at the Galeria de Artes Valenca , Portugal
SEPTEMBER – Vendas Novas 10th Expo Internacional, Portugal
2003
APRIL – Group Exhibition at the Centro de Exposicoes de Fortaleza de Sagres, Portugal
OCTOBER – Vendas Novas 9th Expo Internacional, Portugal
DECEMBER – Belo Belo Braga, Portugal
2002
JUNE – Group Exhibition at the Instituto Camoes at Casa de Arines in Vigo, Spain
2001
APRIL – Group Exhibition at the Claustros do Forte de S. Francisco in Chaves, Portugal
JUNE – Group Exhibition at the Galeria Multimaios in Espinho, Portugal
2000
FEBRUARY – Group Exhibition at the Jardim Paulista (Expo do Acervo) in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
MAY – Opera em Aveiro, Portugal
1999
MARCH – Group Exhibition at the Galeria Casa de Portugal in Sao Paulo, Brazil
JUNE – Group Exhibition at the Galeria Instituto Camoes in Brasilia, Brazil
JULY – Group Exhibition at the Galeria Banco Bandeirantes in Sao Paulo, Brazil
1998
JUNE – Group Exhibition at the Galeria Casa de Portugal in Sao Paulo, Brazil
AUGUST – Group Exhibition at the Casa de Macau in Interlagos, Brazil
1997
JUNE – Group Exhibition at the Galeria Barata in Lisbon, Portugal
AUGUST – Group Exhibition at the Galeria B.F.P. in Porto Alegre, Brazil
1996
JUNE – Group Exhibition at the Galeria Casa de Portugal in Sao Paulo, Brazil
NOVEMBER – Group Exhibition at the Galeria Instituto Camoes in Brasilia, Brazil
1995
JUNE – Group Exhibition at the Galeria do Centro Portugues in Caracas, Venezuela
1994
JUNE – Exhibited at the Galeria Hilton in Caracas, Venezuela
JULY – Group Show at the Palos Grandes (Expo do Acervo) in Caracas, Venezuela
OCTOBER – Group Exhibition at the Galeria Barata in Lisbon, Portugal
NOVEMBER – Group Exhibition at the Galeria Sheraton in Porto, Portugal
1993
FEBRUARY – Group Exhibition at the Mandela Galery at the Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, South Africa
JULY – Group Exhibition at the Galeria Fedcamaras in Caracas, Venezuela
1992
MARCH – Group Exhibition at the Galeria do Centro Portugues in Caracas, Venezuela
1991
FEBRUARY – Group Show. Pintores e Escultores de Mozambique at the Galeria Estoril, Portugal
JULY – Group Exhibition at the Lou Lim Yok Gallery in Macau, South China
SEPTEMBER – Group Show at the Hagenhof Gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa
NOVEMBER – Group Exhibition at the Crowne Plaza in Lisbon, Portugal
1990
MARCH – Group Exhibition at the Portuguese Embassy in Maputo, Mozambique
MAY – Group Exhibition at the Gencor Gallery, RAU in Johannesburg, South Africa
AUGUST – Group Exhibition at Goldfields in the Vaal Triangle, South Africa
OCTOBER – Group Exhibition at the Fundacao Dionisio Pinheiro in Agueda, Portugal
1989
JULY – Group Exhibition at the Sandton Sun in Sandton, South Africa
NOVEMBER – Group Exhibition at the Galeria do Casino in Estoril, Portugal
1988
JULY – Group Exhibition Portfolio Gallery in Durban, South Africa
AUGUST – Group Exhibition at the Galeria Turismo in Leiria, Portugal
1987
JULY- Portuguese Art In SA at the Leephy Gallery in Bergdron, South Africa
OCTOBER – Group Exhibition at the Galeria Grade in Aveiro, Portugal
1986
APRIL – Group show at the Witwatersrand University. Portuguese Cultural Week, South Africa
MAY – Group Exhibition at the AARM in Germiston, South Africa
JULY – Group Exhibition at the Galeria Albatroz in Cascais, Portugal
OCTOBER – Group Exhibition at the Galeria Turismo in Estoril, Portugal
1985
OCTOBER – Group Exhibition at the Diamond Corner in Johannesburg, South Africa
NOVEMBER – Group Exhibition at the SA Association of Arts in Pretoria, South Africa
1984
MAY – Exhibited at the Jewish Guild Gallery in Sandton, South Africa
NOVEMBER – Group Exhibition at the SA Association of Arts in Pretoria, South Africa
1983 Co-founded TAM (Tertulia de Artistas de Mocambique) with Rodrigo Pombeiro, Johannesburg, South Africa
1981 Invited to exhibited at the Republic Festival Exhibition at the Durban Harbour Gallery, Durban, South Africa
1979 Joint Exhibition with Carl Jeppe and Dannie de Wet at SA Association of Arts, South Africa
1978 Invited to exhibit at SA Association of Arts – World in Conflict, Pretoria, South Africa
1977 Invited to Exhibit at the Prestigious Opening of New SA Association of Arts Gallery at the Volkskas Bldg, Pretoria, South Africa.
1974 Co-founder of Art Studios Pretoria with Carl Jeppe, Lynn Jeppe and Elaine van Deventer, Pretoria, South Africa
1973 Joint Exhibition with Ian Redelinghuys At the SA Association of Arts, Pretoria, South Africa
1972 New Signatures Exhibition at the SA Association of Arts (Prize Winner)Pretoria, South Africa
1971 Exhibited at Highpoint – Hillbrow Exhibition, Johannesburg, South Africa