Anton Smit (sculptor)

Anton Sydney Smit (born 2 August 1954 ) is a contemporary South African sculptor. He is known for his large-scale sculptures and public art exhibitions. He is the father of South African Artist, Lionel Smit.

Career
Smit began exhibiting art in 1976 in South Africa. In 1979 he won the South African Association of Arts' New Signatures competition. His first solo exhibition in 1980 was held at the Beuster Skolimowski Gallery in Pretoria, South Africa with further local exhibitions throughout the 1980’s.

The first international exhibitions of Smit’s work were held in 1991 in Rome and Milan, and at the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoletto, Italy, followed by solo exhibitions at Sweeguan Art Gallery, Singapore in 1993 and Omni Gallery, New York in 1994.

His work was exhibited at the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela 1994 at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa.

In 2003 he established the Anton Smit Sculpture Park at Bronkhorstspruit dam, South Africa.

Throughout the 2000’s until present, Smit continues creating new works and exhibiting internationally.

Style
Smit’s body of work comprises heads, human figures, nudes, masks, hands, angels, floating and stretching figures, warriors as well as abstract works in steel, metal, stone, a unique iron and polymer cast mixture, and bronze. His works often depict the human form reduced to a simplified symmetry, and are often patinated with vivid blue hues or dark rust.

Selected gallery and public exhibitions
Smit has exhibited in a number of galleries since 1976.


 * 1976: Etno Africa Gallery, Pretoria
 * 1980: Solo exhibition, Beuster-Skolomowski Gallery, Pretoria
 * 1980: A. P. S. A. National Exhibition at the Olivetti Gallery
 * 1985: Exhibition, Michaelatos-Gallery, the Joffa Collection, Los Angeles
 * 1991: Exhibitions in Rome and Milan, Italy. Exhibition at the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoletto, Italy
 * 1993: Solo exhibition at Sweeguan Art Gallery, Singapore
 * 1994: Solo exhibition at Omni Gallery, New York
 * 1994: Exhibition at the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela, Pretoria, South Africa
 * 1994: Exhibition in Bonn, Germany
 * 1994: Public Exhibition, Grand Central Station, New York
 * 1996: Launch of the BMW 5 series, Sandton Square, Johannesburg
 * 1998: Exhibition at the South African Embassy, Bonn
 * 1998: Solo exhibition, Artfolio Gallery, Singapore
 * 1999: Exhibition at the Inter Art Galerie Reich, KoIn
 * 2000: Exhibition Laguna Beach, California
 * 2001: Exhibition Hamburg, Germany
 * 2005: The ID of South African Art, Scheveningen, Holland
 * 2012: Transitions, George, South Africa
 * 2016: Spirit of Tswane, Menlyn on Maine, Pretoria, South Africa
 * 2016 “Colossal”, Australian Bronze, Sydney, Australia
 * 2017: SCOPE Art Fair, presented by DL Gallery, New York
 * 2019: Ferrari Fine Arts Exhibition featuring Anton Smit, Johannesburg
 * 2020: New Futurism, Uitstalling Gallery, Genk, Belgium
 * 2021: SculptX, Fourth Edition, Johannesburg, South Africa
 * 2022: "Anton Smit: The Walk of Life", Leonardslee Gardens, Horsham, UK
 * 2022: Contemporary South Africa, Thompson’s Gallery, London, UK
 * 2023: Anton Smit Open Air Exhibition, Century City, Cape Town

Selected collections
Rupert Art Foundation - Stellenbosch

Grande Provence – Franschhoek

Delaire Graff Estate - Stellenbosh

Lourensford – Somerset West

Benguela Cove – Hermanus

Century City Arts Foundation - Cape Town