History | Exhibitions
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.
Widely revered for his overwhelming heads and monumental 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 forms his own language through sculpture, the manifestation of his passion for expression and his profound faith.” – Kathleen Thomas, Art Curator
“What distinguishes the creative person is his persistence and determination to excel.” – Rhoma Ochse
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.
1971: First prize, National Bible Year Competition
1975: Published in the international magazine “Schaufenster
1976: Exhibition, Etno-Africa Gallery, Pretoria
1977: Highly acclaimed at New Signatures
1979: Exhibitions in Witrivier, Nelspruit and Cape Town
1979: First prize, New Signatures Competition, SAAA
1980: Beuster-Skolimowski Gallery, Pretoria
1980: A.P.S.A National Exhibition, Olivetti Gallery
1981: SAAA, Crake Gallery, Pretoria
1982: Artist of the month, Pretoria Art Museum
1986: Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg
1987: Beuster-Skolimowski Gallery, Pretoria
1988: Pretoria and Pietersburg Art Museums
1989: One-man Exhibition, South African Association of Arts (SAAA)
1991: Exhibitions in Rome and Milan,
1991: International Exhibition of Two Worlds in Spoletto, Italy
1992: Large sculptures commissioned by BMW Head Office, Johannesburg
1993: One-man Exhibition, Sweeguan Art Gallery, Singapore
1994: One-man Exhibition, Omni Gallery, New York
1994: 35 Sculptures on exhibition in New York at the Jacob Jawitz Exhibition Centre as well as Grand Central Station, New York
1994: Exhibition at the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela at the Presidency
1994: Exhibition, Germany, Bonn, Wolfsburg
1995: Exhibition, Vincent Art Gallery, East London
1997: Designed Millennium Art Gallery, Pretoria
1998: Exhibition, South African Embassy, Bonn, Germany
1998: One-man Exhibition, Artfolio Gallery, Singapore
1999: Exhibition, Inter Art Galerie Reich, Köln
2000: Laguna Beach, California; Potchefstroom Museum, Aardklop Festival; University of Pretoria
2001: Exhibition, Hamburg, Germany
2001: University of Pretoria
2002: Work personally purchased by philanthropist, Anton Rupert for the Rembrandt Foundation – Stellenbosch
2003: Established the Anton Smit Sculpture Park – Bronkhorstspruit dam
2003: “ Age of Grace “ – erected at the University of Pretoria Museums – Hatfield Campus
2003: ” Shielded Man” – established at the University of Pretoria Museums – Hatfield Campus
2004: Delaire Graff Estate, Stellenbosch – Collection purchased by Laurence Graff
2005: “Identity of South Africa” Exhibition, Amsterdam
2007: Public Commission: National Library of Tshwane/Pretoria
2007: Aardklop Festival, Potchefstroom
2007: Ebotse Golf Estate, Benoni
2008: “Revelations Wall” Anton Smit Sculpture Park
2008: Exhibition, Platform on 18th, Pretoria
2009: “No second death” Exhibition, Grande Provence, Franschhoek
2009: Delaire Graff Estate, Stellenbosch
2010: “Facets” Exhibition, Anton Smit Sculpture Park & Gallery
2010: “Angels” Exhibition, Grande Provence, Franschhoek
2010: Private Commission, Mauritius
2010: Public Art Project, Centurion/Pretoria
2010: Private Commission, Mykonos, Greece
2010: Charity Exhibition, St. Lorient
2010: Main Sculpture for Potchefstroom’s Sports Village, commissioned by North West University for the opening of the Soccer World Cup
2011: “Transitions” Exhibition, Anton Smit Sculpture Park & Gallery
2011: “Burning Man’, commissioned by
