LIONEL SMIT
(b. 1982 Pretoria, South Africa) 

Lionel Smit is best known for his contemporary portraits both on monumental canvases and in sculpture. Each of his works offer us an entry point into the variety and richness that lies beneath every face we encounter in life. Abstract lines and swathes of colour establish the grounds for a figure to emerge.

In recent years, he has expanded his sculptural repertoire, creating bodies as well as faces. Smit uses intensely saturated patinas - Brilliant streaks of blue and green enrich the grooves of an ear, while the natural shadow of an eyelid is intensified by the deepening of rich black patinas. This style echoes his paintings. The patination, focused enthusiasm for surface gradations and brushstroke-like quality of his sculptures showcases how he consistently pushes the envelope.

Smit's figures remain highly charged with the emotive and gestural energy of his creative process. His making remains adaptive, inventive, and physically engaging. Through this he has achieved success all over the world including sell-out exhibitions in London and Hong Kong.

Lionel Smit has exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery in London where he received the Viewer’s Choice Award, and was selected as the 'face' of the BP Portrait Award 2013 for all campaigns. He was awarded the Ministerial Award from the Department of Culture for Visual Art. A highlight of his career was the publication of one of his paintings on the cover of Christie’s Auction Catalogue. In June 2016, Smit, in collaboration with Cynthia-Reeves Gallery, installed a public art installation, Morphous, in Union Square, New York.

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2025

In Studio, Everard Read, Cape Town, SA

2024

Encounter, Kube / Uitstalling Gallery, Ghent, Belgium

Formed, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

Irreversible, Everard Read, London

2023

Exposure, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

Veil, KUBE Gallery / Uitstalling Art Gallery, Genk

Reflection of Self sculpture, Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, Legacy Museum, Alabama

2022

Interlude, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

Pendulum, Uitstalling Gallery, Ghent, Belgium

Collide, M Contemporary, Darlinghurst

Morphous sculpture permanent public installation at Kennedy Plaza, Rhode Island

2021

Prelude, Everard Read, London, UK

Discrepancies, Uitstalling Gallery, Ghent, Belgium

2020

Suspended, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa

Reposition, Uitstalling Gallery, Ghent, Belgium

Verso, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

2019    

DESTRUCTURE, Everard Read, London, United Kingdom

2018    

OBSCURA, Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami, USA

2017    

STATE, Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

EMERGE, M Contemporary, Sydney, Australia

FACES, Everard Read, London, UK

PREMISE, CIRCA, Cape Town, South Africa

2016
New Work, Rook & Raven, Armory Art Week, New York City, USA

Didrichsen Art Museum, Helsinki, Finland

M Contemporary, Sydney, Australia

2015

FNB Jo-burg Art Fair, Everard Read Gallery Booth, Johannesburg, South Africa

Art Miami Fair Featured Artist, Cynthia Reeves Gallery

Close/ Perspective,  Everard Read Johannnesburg, South Africa

Origins, Rook & Raven, London, UK

Obscura, Everard Read Cape Town, South Africa

2014

Morphous,, CIRCA, Johannesburg, South Africa

Cumulus,, Rook & Raven, London, UK

2013

Art Miami Fair, featured artist, Cynthia Reeves, Miami, USA

IS Sculpture, IsArt, Tokara, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Strarta Art Fair, Saatchi Gallery, Rook & Raven, London, UK

Fragmented, Rook & Raven, London, UK

100 Accumulation, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

Wonder Works Exhibition, The Cat Street Gallery, Hong Kong

2012

Compendium, , 34FineArt, Cape Town, South Africa

Strata, Rook and Raven, London, UK

2011

Surface, Artspace, Johannesburg,  South Africa

2009

Relate, Grande Provence, Franschhoek, South Africa 

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2025

10 Years | Summer Show, Everard Read, London, UK

Matter Matters | Artists & Their Media, Everard Read, London, UK 2024 Inner Sanctum, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

Winter Collection, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa

110 Year Anniversary Exhibition, Everard Read, London

Winter 24/25, Everard Read, London, UK 2023 What I Feel When I Think About the Cosmos, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa

2023

Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

2022

Investec Cape Town Art Fair, with Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

Spring, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa

3D in 22: South African Contemporary Sculpture, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

2021

Art Düsseldorf, Uitstalling Gallery, Germany

2020

Staring Straight to the Future, online exhibition, Everard Read, UK & South Africa

Masterpiece online, with Everard Read, London, UK

The Portrait Show, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

Pink, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

2019    

Winter, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

Art Central Fair, .M Contemporary, Hong Kong

Contect Art Miami, with Everard Read, Miami, USA

ArtXLAgos, with Everard Read, Lagos, Nigeria

2018    

Winter, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa

Sydney Contemporary, with M Contemporary, Sydney, Australia

2017    

Exposed, Helen Day Art Center, Vermont, USA

2016

Opening Gallery Exhibition, CIRCA Gallery Group exhibition, London, UK

Cape Town Art Fair, Everard Read Gallery Booth, Cape Town, South Africa 

2015

Bronze, Steel & Stone, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

FNB Jo-burg Art Fair, Everard Read Gallery Booth, Johannesburg, South Africa

2014

Summer Season, Everard Read Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2013

BP Portrait Award Exhibition, Viewer’s Choice Award , National Portrait Gallery, London, UK

Metal Work Public sculpture, Stellenbosch, South Africa

2012

Accumulation of Disorder, installation, University of Stellenbosch Gallery, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Winter Exhibition, Everard Read, Johannesburg, South Africa

Robert Bowman Gallery, India Art Fair, India

Joburg Art Fair, Everard Read Gallery Booth, Johannesburg, South Africa

2011

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, UK

Submerge, solo exhibition, 34FineArt, Cape Town, South Africa

2009

F.A.C.E.T., Charity Auction, Christie’s, London, UK

AWARDS

2013

Visitor's Choice Award, PB Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London, UK

Ministerial Award from Department of Culture for Visual Art, Western Cape Government, South Africa

2009
Merit Award, Vuleka, Sanlam Art Competition, Cape Town, South Africa

2008
Achievement Award, Pro Arte School of Arts, Pretoria, South Africa

2000
First prize in the MTN Art Colours Awards of Gauteng, South Africa

1999/2000
Best painting student Pro Arte School of Arts, Pretoria, South Africa

SELECTED CORPORATE COLLECTIONS

Delaire Graff Wine Estate, South Africa
Ellerman Contemporary, South Africa
European Investment Bank, South Africa
Grainvest Futures, South Africa
Johannesburg City Council, South Africa
Johann Jacobs Museum, South Africa
Laurence Graff Collection, South Africa
Parkdev, South Africa
Rand Merchant Bank, South Africa
Saronsberg Wine Estate, South Africa
South African Embassy, Nigeria
Standard Chartered Bank, South Africa