Lionel Smit was born in Pretoria, South-Africa in 1982 today he lives and works in Cape Town; known for his large canvasses and unique sculptures.  Smit has been exhibiting locally and internationally for nearly 10 years.  Smit has a significant international following, with collectors ranging from European Investment Bank, Laurence Graff from Delaire Wine Estate to the Rand Merchant Bank.  
Exceptionally Talented Painter & Sculptor

© Lionel Smit The Sentinel 230 X 460cm oil on canvas

Exceptionally Talented Painter & Sculptor Lionel Smith

© Lionel Smit The Sentinel 230 X 460cm oil on canvas

In 2009, Smit reached a pinnacle in his career when Christie’s Auction House, in London, used a photo of one of his paintings “African Girl” for the cover of an auction catalogue.  Incidentally, this piece of work on the auction sold for three times the reserve price.
An Exceptionally Talented Painter & Sculptor

Lionel’s Smit Sculpture – Face

Smit’s father a sculptor, Anton Smit, played a pivotal role in Lionel’s life.   His father’s studio was at home, and Smit was constantly surrounded by the creative process; sculpting from an unusually young age.  It was only in 1996, whilst attending “Pro Arte school of Arts” in Pretoria that he showed an interest in painting.  In 2000 after graduating as top student of painting, it was only a matter of time, before Smit would be known as having carved out his own artistic identity.
Exceptionally Talented Painter & Sculptor

© Lionel Smit – African Girl oil on canvas 2400mm X 1650mm

Exceptionally Talented Painter & Sculptor

©-Womans Face by: Lionel Smit

Exceptionally Talented Painter & Sculptor

© Lionel Smit Residue series 3s

Exceptionally Talented Painter & Sculptor

© Lionel Smit – Scatter series Oil on Canvas 230X 165cm (2)

Exceptionally Talented Painter & Sculptor

© Lionel Smit – Revert Oil on Canvas 166X165cm

Exceptionally Talented Painter & Sculptor

© Lionel Smit – Residue series 6ss

© Lionel Smit – Girl Submerged oil on canvas 200X150cm

His works are part of numerous corporate and private collections. Smit has been hugely successful for the past 10 years in exhibitions in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Stellenbosch and internationally in London, Los Angeles and Ireland.

For Lionel Smit “painting is like an energy release and at that moment in time the work becomes alive – a paused action.”

Qualifications and awards:
2009 Merit Award, Vuleka, Sanlam Art Competition, Cape Town
2008 Achievement Award, Pro Arte School of Arts
2000 First prize in the MTN Art Colours Awards of Gauteng
1999/2000 Best painting student Pro Arte School of Arts
Selected exhibitions: (partial list)
2012
Art India, Bowman Gallery, India
2011
Surface, solo exhibition, Artspace, Johannesburg
IS Sculpture,TOKARA,Stellenbosch
34FineArt, ArtMonaco ‘11, Monaco
MOMAC, group exhibition, Roberta Moore Fine Art, England
2010
Out of the Office, group exhibition, Kunstmuseum Bochum, Germany
Cynthia Reeves Projects, Art Miami, USA
We are not Witches, Saatchi Gallery, London
Submerge, solo exhibition, 34FineArt, Cape Town
Who, group exhibition, Grande Provence, Franschhoek
Coolstuff, group exhibition, 34FineArt, Cape Town
2009
F.A.C.E.T., Charity Auction, Christie’s, London
Selected Collections: (partial list)
Standard Chartered Bank
Laurence Graff Collection
Rand Merchant Bank
European Investment Bank
Johannesburg City Council
Saronsberg Wine Estate
Grainvest Futures
Barnstone
Delaire Graff Wine Estate
South African Embassy, Nigeria
Parkdev
Johann Jacobs Museum

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