Lionel Smit Explained

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] He received a Ministerial Award from the South African Department of Culture in 2013[7] for Visual Art.

History

Born in 1982 in Pretoria, South Africa, Smit was exposed to sculpture through his father Anton Smit,[8] who worked from his studio adjacent to the family home. This studio played a central role in Lionel's upbringing.[9] 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.

Work and subject matter

Lionel Smit's art is defined by a relationship between sculpture and painting.[10]

Smit is based in Strand, South Africa.[11] He has achieved international success including sell-out exhibitions in London[12] [13] 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[14] and Elle Decoration.[15]

Qualifications and awards

Selected exhibitions

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

Catalogues

Selected collections

Notes and References

  1. News: Get to know celebrated SA artist, Lionel. Smit. News24. 21 October 2015. 8 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151022104337/http://www.news24.com/Live/Lifestyle/WATCH-Get-to-know-celebrated-SA-artist-Lionel-Smit-20151021. 22 October 2015. dead.
  2. News: Smart Art: Art for buying's sake. Times Live. 16 January 2014.
  3. Web site: Chefs Who Share – The Art of Giving. Food24.
  4. Web site: Benchmark Design. Visi.
  5. News: Liversedge. Belinda. The face of contemporary SA art – Smit's bold portraits now in London. The South African. 20 March 2014.
  6. Web site: BP Visitors' Choice Award 2013. National Portrait Gallery.
  7. Web site: 2013 Cultural Awards Winners. Western Cape Government.
  8. Web site: An alchemy of metal and paint. Opulent Living.
  9. Web site: Adjin. Kwesi. Face to Face with Lionel Smit. Style No Chaser.
  10. Web site: An alchemy of metal and paint. Opulent Living.
  11. Web site: Leigh . Robertson . An office made for Art . House and Leisure.
  12. News: Cole-Morgan. John. Lionel Smit sells out his London art show before opening night. The South African. 15 June 2015.
  13. Web site: SA Artist sells out London Art Show before opening night. SA Good News. 2015-12-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20151231035541/http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/categories/43-arts-a-entertainment/6862-sa-artist-sells-out-london-art-show-before-opening-night.html. 2015-12-31. dead.
  14. Web site: Tarina Patel painting fetches R85 000. Elle South Africa.
  15. Web site: 10 tips for top interior design. Elle Decoration.
  16. Web site: Exclusive Interview with Award Winning Artist Lionel Smit. SA Creative Network.
  17. Web site: BP Visitors' Choice Award 2013. National Portrait Gallery.
  18. Web site: Cultural Awards 2013. Western Cape Government.
  19. Web site: Close/Perspective Exhibition. Johannesburg Times.
  20. Web site: Close/Perspective Exhibition. Mail & Guardian.
  21. News: 'n Uitdaging van Persepsie. Netwerk24. 29 August 2015.
  22. Web site: Origin Exhibition. Rook and Raven.
  23. Web site: Lionel Smit: Origins to open at Rook and Raven London. Artlyst.
  24. News: Obscura Exhibition. Art Times.
  25. Web site: Obscura Exhibition. Everard Read.
  26. Web site: Contronym Exhibition. The Cat Street Gallery.
  27. Web site: Cumulus Exhibition. Rook and Raven.
  28. Web site: Fragmented Exhibition. Rook and Raven.
  29. Web site: de Freitas. Marilyn. The many faces of Lionel Smit. www.art.co.za.
  30. Web site: BP Portrait Award Exhibitors 2013. National Portrait Gallery.
  31. Web site: Compendium Exhibition. 34FineArt.
  32. News: Strata Exhibition. The South African.
  33. Web site: Strata Exhibition. Rook and Raven.
  34. Web site: Submerge Exhibition. 34FineArt.
  35. Web site: Submerge Catalogue. 34FineArt.
  36. Web site: RMB Art Collection. Rand Merchant Bank.