Jacques Viljoen (b.1988) was born in Cape Town, South Africa and graduated from The Michaelis School of Fine Art at the University of Cape Town in 2011, where he majored in painting, before moving to the UK in 2012. In 2018 he moved to Florence, Italy to study painting and drawing at The Florence Academy of Art, completing two years full time study before returning to South Africa during the Global Pandemic.
Viljoen is a contemporary realist painter, working exclusively from life in oil, without the use of photography. He is best known for his atmospheric plein air landscape paintings in and around The Western Cape, but also creates still life and figurative work.
In 2022 Viljoen became the first person since the 90’s to be awarded the title of Artist in Residence at the IZIKO National Gallery in Cape Town, where he worked for a year.
He has held a number of solo shows in Cape Town and exhibited at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters in London and recently, the 2023 South African Portrait Awards top 40.
Solo Shows
2023 - Artist in Residence artwork showcase, Iziko National Gallery, Cape Town
2023 - Solo Show, January 2023, Chandler House, Cape Town
2022 - “Here, Now”, Chandler House, Cape Town
2021 - “Wish You Were Here”, Chandler House, Cape Town,
2021 - “The Light and Weight of Home”, Artist’s Admin, Cape Town
2017 - "Strangers", MostArt Centre, London
Group Shows
2023 - “Top 40, South African Portrait Awards”, Rust-En-Vrede Gallery, Bellville
2022 - “Stilte”, Chandler House, Cape Town
2021 - “Summer Song”, The Gallery, Val de Vie Estate, Paarl
2021 - “99 Reasons to Come to Cape Town”, Chandler House, Cape Town
2021 - “Re-Cognition” The Cape Gallery, Cape Town
2018 - “Show of Hands”, Aiding and Supporting Drugs, London
2017 - “Exploration and Investigation”, Subterranean arts, Ipswitch
2017 - “Rough to Smooth”, Freemasons' Hall, London
2017 - Royal Society of Portrait Painters
Residencies
2022-2023 - IZIKO National Gallery of Cape Town
2017 - United Grand Lodge of England (Jan - Jun)
Competitions and Awards
2019 - Best Cast Drawing, Florence Academy of Art.
2017 - SAA Artist of the Year, best figure or portrait (UK)
Education
2020 - The Florence Academy of Art, Intermediate Painting
2019 - The Florence Academy of Art, Intensive Drawing.
2008 - 2011 - Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, BA hons. Painting.
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