NEILL WRIGHT

(b. 1985, South Africa)

Neill Wright is a multidisciplinary artist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. His satirical work braves the world of social commentary in a bold, colourful and humorous manner. Wright explores various mediums, such as sculpture, printmaking and painting as modes of expression, drawing inspiration from the interconnected worlds of media, popular culture, politics and societal interactions in an attempt to create panoramic views of current issues, hardships, complexities and paradoxes present within South African and to some extent African society as a whole. Through highlighting the absurdities of a collectively experienced ‘everyday’, his work subverts the tragic, placing the viewer in a space where they are confronted by opposing feelings: the melancholic reality and the ironic hilarity of his compositions.

BIOGRAPHY

In 2007, Neill graduated with distinction for the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art (Honours), at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, where he was co-awarded the Simon Gerson Prize for an outstanding body of work.  In 2009, he graduated with a Postgraduate Diploma in Fine Art, majoring in printmaking. In 2013, Wright was named one of the ten emerging South African artists to watch by The Times, and he has exhibited in a number of group and solo shows as well as at numerous South African and International Art fairs. His works are housed in private collections in Europe, the United States, Australia and South Africa.

CV
SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2016
Wilderness, CIRCA on Jellicoe, Johannesburg, South Africa

2015               
The Atrophy and the Ecstasy, Sulger-Buel Lovell, Cape Town, South Africa

2013               
The Hilarity of Reality, Circa on Jellicoe, Johannesburg, South Africa    
Spectacular but Empty, The Lovell Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2011               
Protect Your Roots, Salon91 Contemporary Art Collection, Cape Town, South Africa

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2018
Winter, Everard Read, London, UK

2015               
Bronze, Steel, Stone, Everard Read & Circa, Johannesburg, South Africa

2014               
Liberation un(masked), Sulger-Buel Lovell, London, UK

2013-4           
Summer of Sculpture, Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town, South Africa

2013             
Whack! Gallery In Toto, Johannesburg, South Africa

2011               
Summer Salon, Salon91 Contemporary Art Collection, Cape Town, South Africa
TLG Competition Winners, The Lovell Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
Winter Salon, Salon91 Contemporary Art Collection, Cape Town, South Africa

2010              
Out Of Africa, Salon91 Contemporary Art Collection, Cape Town, South Africa

SELECTED ART FAIRS

2016                      
FNB Joburg Art Fair, Everard Read booth, South Africa
Cape Town Art Fair, CTICC, Cape Town, South Africa

2015                     
Turbine Art Fair, Sulger-Buel Lovell, Johannesburg, South Africa

2014                     
FNB Joburg Art Fair, Lovell Urban booth, Johannesburg, South Africa
Turbine Art Fair, Lovell Contemporary, Johannesburg, South Africa
Cape Town Art Fair, Salon91 Contemporary, Cape Town, South Africa

2013      
Art For Me, Lovell Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
Sydney Contemporary, Australia
FNB Joburg Art Fair, Lovell Gallery booth, Johannesburg, South Africa
Turbine Hall Art fair, Lovell Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
Standard Bank National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, South Africa

2012                      
FNB Joburg Art Fair, Everard Read booth, Johannesburg, South Africa