Aleta Michaletos was born in Pretoria in 1952. She earned her BFA in painting from the University of Pretoria in 1974. Since 1971 she has actively served on the boards of several Foundations, Committees and Associations.
Several of her artworks are housed in Local and International Museums as well as Public and Corporate collections.
She has travelled extensively and also writes essays on a variety of issues, some of which have recently been published. She is also a keen photographer.
She has an extensive exhibition record and has participated in more than 100 group exhibitions and 17 solo exhibitions up to date. Most of these were National but several were International. She is also the recipient of numerous local and international honours and awards.
She established Aleta Michaletos Gallery in 1985 and has just completed the addition of a new exhibition complex.
As part of a solo exhibition titled ‘Drawing Attention to Transformation and Regeneration’, which was held at the Pretoria Art Museum in 1994, Michaletos conceived and executed a symbolical portrait of Nelson Mandela, titled ‘Rebirth’ (right).
In the same year, ‘Rebirth’ earned the ‘United Nations Art and Philatelic Award’, awarded in October 1994, at the U.N. Headquarters in New York, USA.
Selected highlights:
1989 - 1994 - Commencement and completion of ‘Precious Circle’
1991 - 3 month Retrospective Exhibition, Karl Hover Museum, Schloss Ettlingen, Germany.
1994 - United Nations Art and Philatelic Award : 'Rebirth' (joining ranks of Dali, Miro, Chagall, Warhol, Calder, Vasarely etc.)
- Solo exhibition, UN Headquarters NY.
1995 - Finalist: Excellence Award, Greek Chamber of Commerce. ‘Precious Circle’ Exhibited, Gallery la Villette, Paris, France
2000 - First residency at the Cite Internationale des Arts, Paris.
2001 - Featured in International Biographical Centres' Who's Who in the 21st Century
- IBC Achievement Award
- IBC International Woman of the Year Award
2002 - Featured in IBC's 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century
- Featured in IBC's 500 Founders of the 21st Century
- Featured in the American Biographical Institute's Great Minds of the 21st Century.
- Second residency at the Cite Internationale des Arts, Paris
2003 - Solo exhibition, Paris, France.
- Lyceum Club of Greek Women ‘Excellence Award’
- Major SA collector commences the collection of her work.
2006 - Completion of ‘Idyllirium’, 4.5 x 1.3 meter painting.
2007 - Third residency at the Cite Internationale des Arts, Paris.
- Invited to join Greek Forum
Major collector commences the planning of a Museum dedicated to her work and which should be completed by 2009.