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About The Artist

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"Creation continues incessantly through the medium of man. Man emulates and assimilates nature producing poetry of word and form”

Sculptor Anton Smit was born in the Transvaal town of Boksburg, South Africa, in August 1954. He entered his first sculpting competition at the age of sixteen, and won the first prize. Completely selftaught, the sculptor was awarded the first prize in the SA Association of Arts' New Signatures Competition in 1979.

Following successful exhibitions in Nelspruit, White River, Cape Town and Pretoria, Smit turned to sculpting full-time to cope with the demand for his work by galleries and private collectors alike.

With works permanently on display at the Pretoria and Pietersburg Art museums and major art galleries across the country, and the Anton Smit Sculpture Museum at the Millennium Art Gallery, Groenkloof, Pretoria, the artist is fast becoming one of South Africa's prominent sculptors.

During 1990, international recognition came in the form of exhibitions in Rome and Milan, an invitation to exhibit in New York and Hong Kong as well as a return exhibition in Italy in 1993. More exhibitions have followed in Bonn, Washington, Singapore and Koln.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

  • 1979: First prize in New Signatures Competition, SA Association of Arts, Pretoria.
  • 1991: International exhibition of Two Worlds in Spoletto, Italy.
  • 1992: Large sculptures commissioned by BMW, Johannesburg.
  • 1993: Solo exhibition at Sweeguan Art Gallery, Singapore.
  • 1994: Solo exhibition at Omni Gallery, New York.
    Exhibition at the inauguration of President Mandela.
    Exhibition in Bonn, Germany and OMNI Gallery, New York.
  • 1996: Exhibition-Gallery on the Square.
    Planned and exhibited at the sculpture exhibition for the launch of the BMW 5 series- Sandton Square, Johannesburg.
  • 1997: Design of the Millennium Art Gallery in Pta incorporating the Anton Smit sculpture museum.
  • 1998: Exhibition at the South African Embassy, Bonn.
    One-man exhibition Artfolio Gallery, Singapore.
    Exhibition at the Inter Art Gallery Reich, Koln.

    Artist CV

    Young sculptor

    1970: First prize in the nationwide Bible Year Competition.

    1975: Published in the international magazine, "Schaufenster."

    1976: Exhibits at the Ethno-Africa Gallery, Pretoria.

    1977: Honours, New Signatures Competition.

    1978: Highly acclaimed at A.P.S.A.

    1979:

  • First prize in New Signatures Competition,
  • SA Association of Arts, Pretoria.
  • One-man exhibition, Workshop gallery.
  • Exhibits at Witrivier, Neispruit and Cape Town.

    Decade of opportunities

    1980:

  • One-man exhibition, Beuster-Skolomowski Gallery, Pretoria.
  • A. P. S. A. National Exhibition at the Olivetti Gallery.

    1981:

  • South African Association of Arts, Crake Gallery, Pretoria.

    1982: Artist of the month, Pretoria Art Museum.

    1983: Exhibition, Crake Gallery.

    1984: Exhibition, Kraft Gallery.

    1985:

  • Exhibition, Michaelatos-.Gallery.
  • The Joffa Collection Los Angeles.

    1986: Everard Read-Gallery, Johannesburg.

    1987: One-man exhibition, Beuster-Skolimowski Gallery, Pretoria.

    1988: Pretoria and Pietersburg Art museums.

    1989: One-man exhibition, South African Association of Arts (SAAA).

    Exhibitions abroad

    1990:

  • Several exhibitions, with venues ranging from Pretoria and Potchefstroom to Durban.
  • Work bought by M-Net Head Office.

    1991:

  • Exhibitions in Rome and Milan Italy.
  • International exhibition, Two Worlds in Spoletto, Italy
  • Exhibition, Cape Town.

    1992:

  • Large sculptures commissioned by BMW Head Office Johannesburg.

    1993:

  • One-man exhibition at Sweeguan Art Gallery, Singapore.
  • Work purchased for the minister of foreign affairs Mr. Pik Botha.
  • Sculptures commissioned by Brakpan Civic Centre.

    1994:

  • One-man exhibition at Omni Gallery, New York.
  • Exhibition at the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela at the Presidency.
  • Exhibition in Bonn and Wolfsburg.
  • Works purchased by various architects and corporate institutions in Bonn and Wolfsburg.

    1995:

  • Architectural Design - Open Window Art Academy.

    1996:

  • Gallery on the Square, Sandton.
  • Planned and exhibited at the sculpture exhibition for the launch of the BMW 5 series - Sandton Square, Jhb

    1997:

  • Design of the Millennium Art Gallery in Pretoria incorporating the Anton Smit sculpture garden.

    1998:

  • South African Embassy, Bonn, Germany
  • One-man exhibition Artfolio Gallery, Singapore.

    1999:

  • Exhibition at the Inter Art Galerie Reich, KoIn.

    New millennium

    2000:

  • Exhibition Laguna Beach, California.
  • Exhibition at the Potchefstroom Museum at the Aardklop Festival.
  • Exhibition at the University of Pretoria.

    2001:

  • Exhibition Hamburg, Germany.

    2002:

  • Works purchased by Anton Rupert for the Rembrandt Foundation.
  • Exhibition New York
  • Works purchased by Desmond Tutu (America)
  • Monumental Sculptures at Boardwalk Meander (Pretoria)

    2003:

  • Establishment of the Anton Smit Sculpture Park at Aqua Vista
  • Carving of Sandstone Head (2 X 3 meters) for European art Collector

    2004:

  • Exhibition ‘ID of South African Artists’ in Amsterdam
  • Delaire, Stellenbosch, collection purchased by Lawrence Graff

    2005: Identity of South Africa, Amsterdam

    2006: Aqua Vista: Anton Smit Sculpture Park

    2007:

  • Aardklop Potchefstroom
  • Ebotse Golf Estate Benoni

    2008:

  • “Revelations Wall” Anton Smit Sculpture Park
  • Platform on 18th, Pretoria

    2009:

  • Franschoek – Grande Provance, “No Second Death”
  • Bronze Commissions for Delaire / Graff Wine Estate

    2010:

  • Private Commission, Mauritius
  • Facets of Personality Exhibition, Anton Smit Sculpture Park & Gallery
  • Public Art Project, Centurion/Pretoria
  • Private Commission, Myconos, Greece
  • Angels, Grande Provence Franschoek, South Africa
  • Charity Exhibition, St. Lorient
  • Main Sculpture for Potchefstroom’s Sports Village Commissioned by North West University
  • Private Commissions for International Clientelle

    Collections:

  • Wine Estate / Stellenbosch – Delaire
  • National Library of Tshwane / Pretoria
  • Boardwalk Meander, Pretoria
  • Middelburg Waterfront
  • University of Pretoria
  • Van Den Ende Collection, Holland
  • Mpumalanga
  • Anton Rupert for the Rembrandt Foundation
  • BMW 5 Series, Sandton Square, Johannesburg
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Pik Botha
  • Brakpan Civic Centre
  • M-Net Head Office, Johannesburg
  • BMW Head Office, Johannesburg
  • The Joffa Collection Los Angeles, California
  • Advocates Chambers Brooklyn, Pretoria
  • Jonny & Katie Friedman, Mykonos, Greece
  • Desmond Tutu, USA
  • Joffa Collection, USA


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