There have been numerous highlights in Bruce’s multifaceted career. Some stand out as follows:
2015
JAG Centenary Commemorative Medallions
A limited edition of three silver medallions were minted to celebrate the Centenary of the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), Bruce’s Citizen, prize winning sculpture for the Johannesburg Centenary Sculpture Competition in 1987, is represented on one of the three medallions. The other two medallions represent sculptures by Dumile Feni and Eduardo Villa.
2013
Paradox & Metaphrase
Solo Exhibition Paradox & Metaphrase. Iona wine farm, Elgin, Western Cape.
2012
Conjuria at Iona
Solo Exhibition, Conjuria at Iona. Iona wine farm, Elgin, Western Cape.
2004
Dreamtime: Signs and Portents
Solo exhibition, Dreamtime: Signs and Portents. Irma Stern Museum, CapeTown (35 sculptures, 20 drawings).
2004
Honorary Research Associate
Bruce continued to work as an Honorary Research Associate at the Michaelis, UCT.
2003
Artworks in Progress Vol 7
Volume 7 of Artworks in Progress was the last volume edited by Bruce in the year he retired from UCT.
2002
Spier Outdoor Sculpture Biennial
He was an invited artist for the Spier Outdoor Sculpture Biennial, Spier Estate, Stellenbosch. Curated by Public Eye.
2001
Side-Show Solo Exhibition
Solo exhibition, Side-Show. Association for the Visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town (19 sculptures and 22 drawings).
1997
Contemporary South African Art 1985-1995
He was represented in the exhibition Contemporary South African Art 1985-1995. Iziko SA National Gallery, Cape Town. Curator: Emma Bedford .
1995
Images of Metal
He was represented in the national exhibition Images of Metal. Iziko SA National Gallery, Cape Town; Johannesburg Art Gallery; South African tour. Curator: Professor Elizabeth Rankin.
1989
Michaelis School of Fine Art Staff Journal
He initiated Artworks in Progress: Journal of the Staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art for which he was the founding editor. The 10th volume of this journal was published in 2010.
1989
Images of Wood
His sculpture was selected for the national exhibition Images of wood. Johannesburg Art Gallery; SA National Gallery; South African tour. Curator: Professor Elizabeth Rankin.
1988
UCT Life Fellowship
He was conferred with a life fellowship by the University of Cape Town.
1988
Concours P-L Weiller Competition Finalist
He was a competition finalist with his sculpture Oskar I in the Concours P-L Weiller, Institut de France, Paris international curated exhibition.
1987
Johannesburg Centenary sculpture competition
He was a prize winner with his sculpture, Citizen in the Johannesburg Centenary sculpture competition.
1985
BMW Tributaries Exhibition
He participated in the BMW Tributaries exhibition. Market Gallery, Johannesburg; tour of West Germany. Curated by Ricky Burnett.
1981
Bronzes
Solo exhibition, Bronzes. SA Association of Arts, Cape Town (30 sculptures).
1979
Cape Town Biennial
He was an invited artist for the Cape Town Biennial. SA National Gallery, Cape Town.
1978
Teaching sculpture at Michaelis
He was offered and accepted a position to teach sculpture at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, which marked the beginning of a long and illustrious career in education in the Visual Arts at the University of Cape Town, (UCT).
1977
Claude Bouscharain
He wrote a book about the painter, Claude Bouscharain. South African Library under the auspices of the South African National Gallery. General editor Charles du Ry. Cape Town and Johannesburg: C. Struik.
1977
John Muafangejo
Bruce wrote a book about the artist, John Muafangejo: linocuts, woodcuts and etchings. Parallel German text. Cape Town and Johannesburg: C Struik.
1973-1974
Drakensberg Mountains
With the assistance of his family and his farm assistant he built his farmhouse in the foothills of the Drakensberg mountains, using local materials and traditional methods of construction.
1972
Underberg in Natal
He left the SA National Gallery to subsistence farm in the Underberg district in Natal where he continued to practice as a professional artist.
1972
Art of Rorke’s Drift
Bruce wrote the introduction for the catalogue and curated the exhibition Art of Rorke’s Drift at the SA National Gallery.
1971
Irma Stern’s private collection
Bruce was responsible for cataloguing Irma Stern‘s private collection of art and artefacts and he was the editor for the Catalogue of the collections of the Irma Stern Museum.
1970
Assistant Director
He was appointed as Assistant Director of the SA National Gallery (SANG).
1970
African Art in Metal
Bruce wrote the introduction for the catalogue and curated the exhibition African Art in Metal, at the SA National Gallery.
1969
Lippy Lipshitz
Bruce wrote a definitive book about the sculptor, Lippy Lipshitz. A biographical commentary and documentation of the years 1903-1968, with a catalogue raisonné of sculptures. Published for the trustees of the South African National Gallery. Photographs Volker Miros. Cape Town: AA Balkema.
1968
Exhibition of Sculptures
Solo exhibition: Exhibition of Sculptures, Avante Garde Gallery in Johannesburg.
1967
Sculpture & Things
Solo exhibition Sculpture & Things at the Wolpe Gallery in Cape Town.
1967
African Weaving
Bruce wrote the introduction for the catalogue and curated the exhibition African Weaving at the SANG.
1960s to early 1970s
Apartheid and African Art
In the heart of the Apartheid era, during his time at the SA National Gallery (SANG), he initiated the purchase of African artefacts, sculptures, drawings and prints.
1964-1965
British Council Scholarship
He was awarded a British Council Scholarship to do postgraduate research into the influence of African art on Western sculpture at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London with Alan Bowness and John Golding in 1964-1965. Golding was considered a leading authority on Cubism.
1963
São Paulo Biennial exhibition
Bruce’s sculpture was selected for the international São Paulo Biennial exhibition, Sao Paulo, Brazil; New Orleans, USA.
1962
First Professional Officer
Bruce was appointed the first Professional Officer at the South African National Gallery (SANG).
1961
Michaelis Prize
He was awarded the Michaelis Prize, University of Cape Town (UCT).