|
About The Artist
"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
|