Anton Smit is widely revered for his overwhelming heads and monumental African sculptures, evoking themes of suffering, reconciliation, glory and sublimation. His works grace public and private collections countrywide and internationally.
Spoken verse, the echoes of emotive lyrics and the rasping of sculptures in progress are customary sounds emitted from his studio. Larger than life, Anton Smit is the embodiment of poetry, an apt term for this sculptor, derived from the term “making”. Anton collects sayings about the relationship between art and the individual artist’s experience of reality. “Art is not to render the visible but to render visible,” he asserts, and his art achieves this in many ways.
An inspiring raconteur, Anton enjoys relating tales of his struggles as a young sculpture artist. The secret to his success could be attributed to his courage and determination to forge ahead in the face of great difficulty. “Take big risks. Don’t fret about what others think. Do the most difficult thing on earth for you – do it for yourself.” – this approach paid off in spades.
Information sourced from Anton Smit’s official website.
2024
“Fragments”, Exhibition at Grande Provence Gallery, Franschhoek, South Africa
2023
“Landscape of the Soul” subway Faces 33m wall panel – Century City
Rustenburg Marikana Memorial
Urban Echoes – Exhibition – Collaboration with graffiti artist, Mars – Nelson Mandela Square
2022
Colossal – Solo exhibition – 25 Monumental pieces – Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton, Jhb
Anton Smit Art Trail – Milhoro Lodge – Rustenburg
2021
“Century City Open Air Exhibition”, a 30-piece collection of Sculptures spread out in public spaces around the Century City precinct, Western Cape
Art Times Magazine, Front Cover, April Edition
Major Exhibition opens in the UK: Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens
Established Anton Smit Art Route at Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerset West, Cape
Established “Faith 7 meter” Bronze – Benguela Galleries – Hermanus
2020
RESTORE Campaign, Anton Smit Art Investment Initiative to aid those in-need affected by the Covid-19 Lockdown
New Futurism Exhibition, Uitstalling Art Gallery, Belgium
“RAPTURE”, a new Exhibition, Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate, Franschhoek, South Africa
2019
Colossal Exhibition, Genk, Belgium
The Ivy Hotel Villa & Spa, Exclusive Public Exhibition, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa
Benguela Cove, Exclusive Public Exhibition, Hermanus, South Africa
2018
“Submerge”, Imibala Gallery, Somerset West, Cape Town
2017
“7m Faith” Stream Conference, Spier Wine Farm
Stellenbosch Public Sculpture Exhibition
Capital Hotel, Menlyn Maine, Pretoria
“Between the shadow and the soul”, Imibala, Somerset-West
“Brick Face”, Imibala Charity, Community Upliftment Project
“Charity Auction”, MAD Foundation Sculptures (Head of a Young Boy & Head of a Young Girl) sold for R100 000 each.
“Smit & Smit Collaboration”, Cape Wine Auction, Sculpture sold for R1,200,000.
“Rite of Passage”, Exhibition, Jan Royce, Cape Town, South Africa
Public Sculpture Exhibition, Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, South Africa
Durban “Essence” Expo Exhibition, Durban, South Africa
“Walking Man”, Exhibition at Grande Provence Gallery, Franschhoek, South Africa
2016
“Colossal” Australian Bronze – Australia
“Public Sculpture Exhibition”, Menlyn Maine
Pretoria Exhibition
Puerto-Rico Exhibition
Miami Exhibition
“Charity Auction” MAD Foundation, Sculpture (Spiritus Mundi) sold for R120 000
Pendoring Awards
2015
“Smit & Smit”, Imibala Gallery
“Cross section exhibition”, Jan Royce Gallery, Cape Town
“In Retrospect”, Menlyn Boutique Hotel, Pretoria
2014
“Art Affair”, Saxon Hotel Jhb Cool Capital participation
“Spirit of Tshwane”, Public sculpture for Menlyn Main Precinct
“In Retrospect”, Stephan Welz
2013
“Metal Work”, Public Art in Stellenbosch II
2012
“Transcendental Head”, public sculpture on the R25, Symbol of the New South Africa
2011
“Transitions “ Exhibition Anton Smit Sculpture Park
2010
“Facet” Exhibition, Anton Smit Sculpture Park & Gallery Exhibition Grande Provence, Franschhoek
St Lorient
2009
“No second death”, Exhibition, Wine Estate / Franschhoek – Grande Provence
Delaire Wine Estate Stellenboschm – Main artist
2008
“Revelations Wall “- Exhibition / Sculpture Park “Relate “-Platform on 18th, Pretoria /
2007
Public Commission : National Library of Tshwane / Pta
2004
Exhibition Amsterdam
1999
Exhibition at the Inter Art Galerie Reich, KoIn. 2001: Exhibition Hamburg, Germany.
Works purchased by Anton Rupert for the Rembrandt Foundation.
1998
Exhibition at the South African Embassy, Bonn. One-man exhibition Artfolio Gallery, Singapore.
1994
One-man exhibition at Omni Gallery, New York. Exhibition at the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela at the Presidency. Exhibition in Germany, Bonn, Wolfsburg.
1993
One-man exhibition at Sweeguan Art Gallery, Singapore.
1992
Large sculptures commissioned by BMW Head Office Johannesburg.
1991
Exhibitions in Rome and Milan Italy.International exhibition of Two Worlds in Spoletto, Italy.
1989
One-man exhibition, South African Association of Arts (SAAA).
1987
One-man exhibition, Beuster-Skolimowski Gallery.
1982
Artist of the month, Pretoria Art Museum.
1979
First prize in New Signatures Competition, SA Association of Arts, Pretoria
1970
First prize in the nationwide Bible Year Competition.
2021
“Century City Open Air Exhibition”, a 30-piece collection of Sculptures spread out in public spaces around the Century City precinct, Western Cape
Art Times Magazine, Front Cover, April Edition
2020
RESTORE Campaign, Anton Smit Art Investment Initiative to aid those in-need affected by the Covid-19 Lockdown
New Futurism Exhibition, Uitstalling Art Gallery, Belgium
“RAPTURE”, a new Exhibition, Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate, Franschhoek, South Africa
2019
Colossal Exhibition, Genk, Belgium
The Ivy Hotel Villa & Spa, Exclusive Public Exhibition, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa
Benguela Cove, Exclusive Public Exhibition, Hermanus, South Africa
2018
“Submerge”, Imibala Gallery, Somerset West, Cape Town
2017
“7m Faith” Stream Conference, Spier Wine Farm
Stellenbosch Public Sculpture Exhibition
Capital Hotel, Menlyn Maine, Pretoria
“Between the shadow and the soul”, Imibala, Somerset-West
“Brick Face”, Imibala Charity, Community Upliftment Project
“Charity Auction”, MAD Foundation Sculptures (Head of a Young Boy & Head of a Young Girl) sold for R100 000 each.
“Smit & Smit Collaboration”, Cape Wine Auction, Sculpture sold for R1,200,000.
“Rite of Passage”, Exhibition, Jan Royce, Cape Town, South Africa
Public Sculpture Exhibition, Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, South Africa
Durban “Essence” Expo Exhibition, Durban, South Africa
“Walking Man”, Exhibition at Grande Provence Gallery, Franschhoek, South Africa
2016
“Colossal” Australian Bronze – Australia
“Public Sculpture Exhibition”, Menlyn Maine
Pretoria Exhibition
Puerto-Rico Exhibition
Miami Exhibition
“Charity Auction” MAD Foundation, Sculpture (Spiritus Mundi) sold for R120 000
Pendoring Awards
2015
“Smit & Smit”, Imibala Gallery
“Cross section exhibition”, Jan Royce Gallery, Cape Town
“In Retrospect”, Menlyn Boutique Hotel, Pretoria
2014
“Art Affair”, Saxon Hotel Jhb Cool Capital participation
“Spirit of Tshwane”, Public sculpture for Menlyn Main Precinct
“In Retrospect”, Stephan Welz
2013
“Metal Work”, Public Art in Stellenbosch II
2012
“Transcendental Head”, public sculpture on the R25, Symbol of the New South Africa
2011
“Transitions “ Exhibition Anton Smit Sculpture Park
2010
“Facet” Exhibition, Anton Smit Sculpture Park & Gallery Exhibition Grande Provence, Franschhoek
St Lorient
2009
“No second death”, Exhibition, Wine Estate / Franschhoek – Grande Provence
Delaire Wine Estate Stellenboschm – Main artist
2008
“Revelations Wall “- Exhibition / Sculpture Park “Relate “-Platform on 18th, Pretoria /
2007
Public Commission : National Library of Tshwane / Pta
2004
Exhibition Amsterdam
1999
Exhibition at the Inter Art Galerie Reich, KoIn. 2001: Exhibition Hamburg, Germany.
Works purchased by Anton Rupert for the Rembrandt Foundation.
1998
Exhibition at the South African Embassy, Bonn. One-man exhibition Artfolio Gallery, Singapore.
1994
One-man exhibition at Omni Gallery, New York. Exhibition at the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela at the Presidency. Exhibition in Germany, Bonn, Wolfsburg.
1993
One-man exhibition at Sweeguan Art Gallery, Singapore.
1992
Large sculptures commissioned by BMW Head Office Johannesburg.
1991
Exhibitions in Rome and Milan Italy.International exhibition of Two Worlds in Spoletto, Italy.
1989
One-man exhibition, South African Association of Arts (SAAA).
1987
One-man exhibition, Beuster-Skolimowski Gallery.
1982
Artist of the month, Pretoria Art Museum.
1979
First prize in New Signatures Competition, SA Association of Arts, Pretoria
1970
First prize in the nationwide Bible Year Competition.
Anton achieved his first artistic breakthroughs in 1977, he received special mention in the South African Art Association’s New Signatures competition in Pretoria. Two years later he had a great boost when he won first prize in the New Signatures competition.
He was the “Artist of the month” in 1982 at the Pretoria Art Museum this was followed in 1987 with his first one man exhibition in the Beuster Skolimowski Gallery in Pretoria and in 1989 another one man exhibition at the SAAA. Since then he has held numerous exhibitions of his sculptures throughout South Africa, in Witrivier, Nelspruit, Pietersburg, Johannesburg, Potchefstroom, Durban, Cape Town, in leading galleries such as the Crake, Kraft, Olivetti, Michaelatos, Beuster Skolimowski, Everard Read and many others. His work has been exhibited in Rome and Milan, Italy. The M-Net Head Office bought large bronze sculptures, and he completed commissioned works for BMW’s head office in Midrand
In 1994 he put 35 sculptures on exhibition in New York at the Grand Central Station as part of the Strengthening the Link initiative to boost trade between South Africa and The United States, organized by SATOUR in conjunction with the Department of Trade and Industry, represented by former president Nelson Mandela. He considers one of the highlights of his career: The Age of Grace, an eight foot high bronze sculpture at the Grand Central Station, which celebrated South African Heritage and was displayed on the front page of The New York Times.
