// ARTIST BIO

Born in Pretoria, South Africa | b.1984

After completing his BA in Information Design from the University of Pretoria in 2007, Jean moved to Cape Town to pursue a career in illustration, working at the renowned studio Am I Collective. In 2012, he transitioned to freelancing, seeking the freedom to explore his fine art and subcultural interests. With a focus on his distinctive clear-line drawing style, he participated in numerous gallery exhibitions, self-published comics and zines, and experimented with printmaking. Notably, in 2014, he was invited as an international guest to the Short Run Comic Festival in Seattle.

In 2019, after incorporating more colour into his work through printmaking, Jean began to take painting more seriously as a medium.This shift has led to a diverse body of work, that ranges from meticulously calculated compositions to loose impressionistic pieces, that creates an almost humorous and antithetical contrast to his previous illustrative approach in both subject and execution. His new work explores themes of presence and familiarity. Capturing them with a certain degree of faithfulness, while the surreal and otherworldly elements find new places to hide.

With a paradoxical perspective.. and always with a slight sense of humour, Jean ultimately strives toward creating dreamlike representations of reality, through playful experimentation with limitation and restraint.

//Art Education

2012

Business Acumen for Artists - UCT Graduate School of Business

2007

Graduated - BA Information Design - University of Pretoria

//Solo Exhibitions

2026

‘Another Day On Earth’ duo exhibition with Andrew Sutherland, 131 A Gallery, Cape Town

2022

'Out of Town' at Artist Admin Gallery - Cape Town

2020

'Over Seas' at Artist Admin Gallery - Cape Town

2019

'Night and Day' at Ogūn - Cape Town

2017

'Secret Messages' at No End Contemporary - Johannesburg

2015

'Sentient Salad' at The Eye - Cape Town

2012

'Tropic of Soda' at A Word Of Art - Cape Town 

2011

'Hover Mountain' at Wolves - Johannesburg

//Selected Group Exhibitions

2019

'Turbine Art Fair'  with No End Contemporary - Johannesburg 

'I know I don't know / but what if we're wrong?' at No End Contemporary - Johannesburg

2018

'The Best of...2018' at No End Contemporary - Johannesburg 

'Turbine Art Fair'  with No End Contemporary - Johannesburg

'2K' at No End Contemporary - Johannesburg

'Cape Town Art Fair' with 50ty/50ty Prints - Cape Town

2017

'Got it for Cheap'  traveling show curated by Charlie Roberts - EUR -> USA

'Everything In Between' at No End Contemporary - Johannesburg

'Post-It Show 12' at Giant Robot - Los Angeles

'Turbine Art Fair'  with No End Contemporary - Johannesburg

'Turbine Art Fair' with 50ty/50ty Prints - Johannesburg

2016

'Mutiny' at Cape Town Creative Academy - Cape Town

'Post-It Show 11' at Giant Robot - Los Angeles

'Turbine Art Fair' with Salon 91 - Johannesburg

2015

'That Art Fair' - Cape  Town

'Blackout' at Salon 91 - Cape Town

'Open Book Comic Fest' at Homecoming Centre - Cape Town

2014

'Open Book Comic Fest' at Homecoming Centre - Cape Town

'GRAFLit 2 Launch' at Young Blood Gallery - Cape Town

International Guest at 'Short Run' Seattle Comic Festival

'Windows' at Black Box Gallery - Cape Town

Launch of Erdman Contemporary - Cape Town 

'Boooom Baby!' Children Charity Show at Upstairs - Durban

'Endgame' at Gallery 33 - Amsterdam 

2013

'Gift' by Warren Editions - Cape Town

'Path Less Deconstructed' at M Contemporary – Sydney 

'L00K' at Side Street Studios - Cape Town 

'Cape Town Art Fair' with Salon 91 - Cape Town

'Expose' at Warren Editions - Cape Town

'Former Mountains' at Salon 91 - Cape Town

'John Doe Show' at Double Punch Gallery - San Francisco 

'Abstract Stories' at A Word of Art - Cape Town

'GRAFLit Exhibition' at Youngblood Gallery - Cape Town

'Joburg Art Fair' at Warren Editions - Johannesburg

'The Garden' at Tokara - Stellenbosch

'Post-It Show 8' at Giant Robot - Los Angeles 

'Love and Hate' at Kalashnikovv Gallery - Johannesburg

2012

'Radar' at Salon 91 - Cape Town

'Earthly Delights' at Light Grey Art Lab - Minneapolis

'Cartoon Network 20th Anniversary' at Jett Gallery - San Diego 

'Post-It Show 7' at Giant Robot - Los Angeles 

'I'd Rather be Swimming' at Salon91 - Cape Town

2011

'Winter Wonderland' at Salon 91 - Cape Town

'The Bin Show' at A Word of Art - Cape Town

'Blue and Wood' at A Word of Art - Cape Town

'Beautiful Losers I' at A Word of Art - Cape Town

'Picturebook Series Launch' at Warren Editions - Cape Town

'City Slickers' a Traveling Exhibition - Pretoria, Johannesburg and Durban

'Nightwolves' Curated by 'Love & Hate' at Wolves - Johannesburg