Johann Louw

b. 1965, Bellville, South Africa

Lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa

Klein Requiem
2018-2019
Oil and Oil Pastel on Canvas
197 x 338.5 cm
Sittende Man en Skedel
2013
Oil on Plywood
244 x 285 cm
Goieiendag Monsiuer Courbet, op Jakobsbaai
2018-2019
Oil on Canvas
193 x 284 cm
Meisie met Rubber Masker
2010
Oil on Board
122 x 118 cm
Lae Stoel en Figuur
2016
Oil on Canvas
157 x 197 cm
Gietsel
2013
Oil on Plywood
61 x 72.5 cm
Fabriek1
2009_
Charcoal on Paper
118 X 144 cm
Twee Figure in Interieur
2014
Charcoal and White Conte on Paper
244 x 372 cm
Hond van Agter
2014
Charcoal on paper
145 x 125 cm

BIOGRAPHY

Johann Louw graduated with a Masters in Fine Art from Stellenbosch University in 1992, and has since exhibited to great critical acclaim both in South Africa and abroad. In 2007, the Sanlam Art Collection presented a mid-career retrospective as a tribute to Louw’s extensive output and distinguished career over the past two decades. This exhibition toured the country in 2008 and 2009, and was accompanied by a publication on the artist.

Most recently, Louw opened a solo presentation, entitled Lacrimosa, at SMAC Gallery in Cape Town, South Africa which ran until 30 April 2019. Louw also exhibited work as part of the Stellenbosch University’s centenary exhibition, titled Forward? Forward! Forward… which also came to a close at the end of April 2019. In 2018, Louw participated in a group show, entitled Endless Horizons Gráfica Sudafricana, at the Mexican Art Expo in Mexico City, Mexico; and presented a solo booth with SMAC Gallery at Istanbul Contemporary, Istanbul, Turkey.

In 2009, Louw was selected to form part of Linguaggi del Mondo: Languages of the World an official collateral exhibition to the 53rd Venice Biennale in 2009. In 2010 he exhibited in Environmental Concern and Human Existence at the 4th Beijing International Art Biennale, China, and Paralleli – the official exhibition of the Sabbionetta Biennale for Contemporary Art in Italy. Louw was awarded the Ampersand Fellowship in 2014. He was included in Home Truths, curated by Micheal Godby, that opened in late 2016, at the Iziko South African National Gallery in Cape Town, and later at the Sanlam Art Gallery in Belville, South Africa. In the same year, the Association of Visual Art (AVA) Gallery in Cape Town, South Africa presented a solo exhibition of works by Johann Louw, entitled AVA Alumni: Johann Louw. The exhibition is the first in a series where a selection of established artists had the opportunity to showcase the history of their practice and their progression since originally showing with the AVA Gallery.

Solo exhibitions include: Lacrimosa at SMAC Gallery in Cape Town, South Africa in 2019; Der Abschied at SMAC Gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2017; Loog at SMAC Gallery in Stellenbosch, South Africa in 2016; New Paintings at SMAC Gallery in Stellenbosch, South Africa in 2010; Terugkoms van Cythera (Return from Cythera) at SMAC Gallery in Cape Town in 2013; and Gestaltes, an exhibition of large scale works on paper at SMAC Gallery in Cape Town, South Africa in 2014. The University of Johannesburg Art Gallery presented his Et in Arcadia Ego in 2013.

NEWS

Louw recently participated in Stellenbosch University’s Centenary Exhibition entitled Forward? Forward! Forward … The exhibition was a future-oriented centenary exhibition of 100 artworks depicting the future of Stellenbosch University and higher education in Africa. Forward? Forward! Forward… which opened on 5 December 2018 and ran until 30 April 2019.

Louw recently presented his solo exhibition, titled Lacrimosa, at SMAC Gallery in Cape Town.