Lionel Smit

Lionel Smit (born 22 October 1982, Pretoria, South Africa) is a South African artist,[1][2][3] known for his contemporary portraiture executed through large canvases and sculptures.[4]

Smit lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa, but is also represented internationally in London.[5] His work has been exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London where it received the Viewer’s Choice Award,[6] as well as selected as the 'face' of the BP Portrait Award 2013 for all campaigns. He received a Ministerial Award from the South African Department of Culture in 2013[7] for Visual Art. One of his paintings was pictured on the cover of Christie’s Auction Catalogue.[8]

He has had solo exhibitions and been selected as a featured artist in several art fairs across Amsterdam, Germany, India, Miami, Monaco, London and Hong Kong, and has established a substantial international following with collectors ranging from the Standard Chartered Bank to Laurence Graff Art Collection[9][10] at Graff Delaire Wine Estate.

History

Born in 1982 in Pretoria, South Africa, Smit was exposed to sculpture through his father, sculptor Anton Smit,[11] who worked from his studio adjacent to the family home. This studio played a central role in Lionel’s upbringing.[12] By age twelve, Smit was already working in clay and considered himself primarily as a sculptor. At sixteen his parents separated, after which Lionel, a student at Pretoria’s Pro Arte School of Arts at the time, began to use the empty studio space his father occupied for painting. He went on to graduate as the Best Painting Student in his class.

Work and Subject Matter

Lionel Smit’s art is defined by a relationship between sculpture and painting.[13] His paintings start with abstract lines and colour that establish a base for the subsequently overlaid image of a face or bust – in most cases posed by anonymous models from the Cape Malay community.

Smit’s bronzes are created using the lost-wax casting method. Patinas commonly available to artists working in bronze include natural browns, blacks and greens. However, Smit uses alternative methods that result in a saturated patina onto the bronze.

Smit is based in Strand,[14] Cape Town. He has achieved international success including sell-out exhibitions in London[15][16] and Hong Kong.

Local acclaim

Lionel Smit has also enjoyed success in his home country of South Africa, where his work has featured in local publications such as Elle South Africa[17] and Elle Decoration.[18] He has been interviewed on the television show Top Billing[19] and his work is featured in the homes of many guests on the show.Lionel Smit's artwork is also used on the set of the talk show, Afternoon Express.[20]

Qualifications and Awards

Selected Exhibitions

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

Catalogues

Selected Collections

References

  1. ↑ "Get to know celebrated SA artist, Lionel Smit". News24. 21 October 2015.
  2. ↑ "Smart Art: Art for buying's sake". Times Live. 16 January 2014.
  3. ↑ "Chefs Who Share – The Art of Giving". Food24.
  4. ↑ "Benchmark Design". Visi.
  5. ↑ Liversedge, Belinda (20 March 2014). "The face of contemporary SA art – Smit's bold portraits now in London". The South African.
  6. ↑ "BP Visitors' Choice Award 2013". National Portrait Gallery.
  7. ↑ "2013 Cultural Awards Winners". Western Cape Government.
  8. ↑ "Christie's Catalogue 2009". Cynthia Reeves.
  9. ↑ "Kos en wyn tussen beelde". Die Burger. 24 January 2014.
  10. ↑ "Sensuous art of winemaking". Mail & Guardian. 21 April 2011.
  11. ↑ "An alchemy of metal and paint". Opulent Living.
  12. ↑ Adjin, Kwesi. "Face to Face with Lionel Smit". Style No Chaser.
  13. ↑ "An alchemy of metal and paint". Opulent Living.
  14. ↑ Leigh, Robertson. "An office made for Art". House and Leisure.
  15. ↑ Cole-Morgan, John (15 June 2015). "Lionel Smit sells out his London art show before opening night". The South African.
  16. ↑ "SA Artist sells out London Art Show before opening night". SA Good News.
  17. ↑ "Tarina Patel painting fetches R85 000". Elle South Africa.
  18. ↑ "10 tips for top interior design". Elle Decoration.
  19. ↑ "Top Billing visits the studio of Lionel Smit". Top Billing.
  20. ↑ "Behind the Artist Lionel Smit". Afternoon Express.
  21. ↑ "Exclusive Interview with Award Winning Artist Lionel Smit". SA Creative Network.
  22. ↑ "BP Visitors' Choice Award 2013". National Portrait Gallery.
  23. ↑ "Cultural Awards 2013". Western Cape Government.
  24. ↑ "Close/Perspective Exhibition". Johannesburg Times.
  25. ↑ "Close/Perspective Exhibition". Mail & Guardian.
  26. ↑ "'n Uitdaging van Persepsie". Netwerk24. 29 August 2015.
  27. ↑ "Origin Exhibition". Rook and Raven.
  28. ↑ "Lionel Smit: Origins to open at Rook and Raven London". Artlyst.
  29. ↑ "Obscura Exhibition". Art Times.
  30. ↑ "Obscura Exhibition". Everard Read.
  31. ↑ "Contronym Exhibition". The Cat Street Gallery.
  32. ↑ "Cumulus Exhibition". Rook and Raven.
  33. ↑ "Fragmented Exhibition". Rook and Raven.
  34. ↑ de Freitas, Marilyn. "The many faces of Lionel Smit". www.art.co.za.
  35. ↑ "BP Portrait Award Exhibitors 2013". National Portrait Gallery.
  36. ↑ "Compendium Exhibition". 34FineArt.
  37. ↑ "Strata Exhibition". The South African.
  38. ↑ "Strata Exhibition". Rook and Raven.
  39. ↑ "Submerge Exhibition". 34FineArt.
  40. ↑ "Submerge Catalogue" (PDF). 34FineArt.
  41. ↑ "RMB Art Collection". Rand Merchant Bank.
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