Janko de Beer

De Beer is married to Annemarie Paterson (b. 1979), they have two children, Aidan (b. 2007) and Anja (b. 2009), from their marriage.[12]

De Beer, together with his wife, is involved in ongoing anti-poaching and nature conservation efforts within the Umbabat Nature Reserve and Greater Kruger National Park.[13][14] In 2006, a pair of white cubs were born to a tawny lioness on their privately owned family farm inside the Umbabat Game Reserve located on the northern Timbavati border, it was the first white lions recorded in the wild, previously believed to be extinct, for almost 13 years.[15]

De Beer is an avid adventure seeker, in 2019 he trekked to Everest base camp[16][17] from Nepal and section hiked the Appalachian Trail[18][19] situated on the East coast of the United States of America.

De Beer, by way of his art, contributes annually to Make a Difference Leadership Foundation, founded by former Springbok Captain Francois Pienaar, who provide talented South African scholars with exceptional educational and leadership development.[20][21][22]

De Beer's great grandfather Dr. Theo Wassenaar on his mother's side, was part of his inspiration in following a multi career path as an advocate, visual artist and nature conservationist.[23]

De Beer also shares family ties with Jopie Fourie on his mother's side and Siener van Rensburg on his father's side.

De Beer obtained his National Senior Certificate from Pro Arte Alphen Park (1997), a reputed art school in Pretoria, South Africa, where he was exposed to a range of art forms.

In 2003, De Beer obtained his Bachelor of Laws (Legum Baccalaureus) from the University of South Africa.[24][25][26] In 2006, De Beer was admitted to the roll of advocates and practised criminal law independently as a member of the Cape Bar,[27] a society of advocates of the High Court of South Africa specialising in litigation.

During his tenure as a practising advocate he participated in more than thirty (30) group art and sculpture exhibitions and in 2010 he had his first solo sculpture exhibition in Cape Town, South Africa.[28]

In 2011, De Beer started 'Legal by Nature' (LEBNA) a non profit environmental protection and defence fund providing pro bono litigation services to NGO's with environmental causes.[29] De Beer was a board member of the non-governmental environmental organisation 'Habitat Council of South Africa' from 2012 to 2017.

In 2016, De Beer stopped practicing law to pursue his career as an artist full time.[30]

He is represented internationally in Belgium, Dubai,[31] Venice[32] and Geneva.[33]

While Janko de Beer's formal career as an artist started with sculpture, he now balances painting and sculpting equally. For De Beer, the process and method of applying paint to canvas or paper are akin to applying patinas to raw sculptures.[34]

Sculpture

De Beer's artistic process usually starts somewhere in nature. He feels that time spent outdoors best influences his work since it is necessary

Janko De Beer, Studio, Cape Town (c.2018).[35]

for the mind to see new things, if it is to create new things.[36] His sculptures are bold and striking, combining motion, form, texture and a subtle touch of surrealism. Influenced by the principles of contemporary futurism in sculpting, the works convey the history of the medium through strong, idiosyncratic characters.[37][38][39]

De Beer is inspired by found objects collected from nature, particularly beaches throughout South Africa. He collects rocks, wood, dried bull kelp and other natural materials which possess interesting shapes, textures and colours to use in his sculptures.[40][41]

The sculptures are started by constructing a metal armature, onto which detail is added using non-drying modelling clay, driftwood, stones and dry bull kelp fins and bulbs. The product is then moulded and cast – using the lost wax casting technique – into limited editions of bronze sculptures.

De Beer hand finishes all his sculptures, using conventional hot and cold patinas, as well as unconventional materials and methods, like automotive paint, industrial spray paint, shellac varnish including various other creative techniques.[42]

Paint

Inside Janko de Beer's studio, Cape Town, South Africa (c.2019).

De Beer's portrait paintings incorporate a variety of styles and techniques, which result in unexpectedly rich and unusual colour combinations. He is guided by the application of the paint, rather than to force it one way or the other.[43][44][45]

The end result is a mixed media fusion of digital, acrylic and oils on stretched canvas. Limited reproductions of his artworks are printed on cotton rag archival paper and printed with archival inks. The reproductions are referred to as giclée prints.

'Sanctified' by Janko de Beer, Century City Art Trail, Cape Town, South Africa.[46]

Janko de Beer's work is collected globally[47] and has featured in several solo and international group exhibitions. He was a two-time finalist for a Global Art Award, for the Visual Arts, in 2017[48] and 2018.[49] He is represented internationally in Belgium, Dubai,[50] Venice[51] and Geneva.[52]

He has enjoyed success in his home country of South Africa, where his work has featured in many local publications such as Sunday Times,[53] Art Africa Magazine,[54] Rooi Rose[55] and Southern Vines Magazine.[56]

His work has also been widely featured internationally, both in print and broadcast interviews, including National Geographic Magazine,[57] Cent Magazine,[58] UK, Aesthetica Magazine, UK and HocTok Magazine,[59] New York.

De Beer's work forms part of the Century City Arts Trail situated in Cape Town, South Africa where a bronze sculpture of a horse bust, made from dried bull kelp, is on permanent display to the public.[60]

• Big Breakfast, KykNET, SA[61]
• Pasella, SABC 2, SA[62]
• Morning Live: Expresso Show, SABC 3, SA[63]
• Tamarah's Closet, USA[64][65]
• Fine Music Radio, SA
• RSG Radio, SA

• Associated Press TV Network (AP), Documentary on the uses of Bull Kelp[66]

• Eddie Jordan Private Collection
• Ken Forrester Wine Estate
• Cheetah Plains Private Game Reserve
• Ali Shirazinia Private Collection[84]
• Benguela Cove Wine Estate[85]
• Leeu Private Collection
• Rabie Property Group
• Menlyn Boutique Hotel[86]
• Francois Pienaar Private Collection

• Century City Arts Trail[87]
• Benguela Cove Wine Estate[88]
• Leeu Collection

2020

• Metamorphosis solo exhibition,[89] Creation Wines Estate, SA[90]
• Solo exhibition, Ken Forrester Wine Estate, SA
• KKNK (Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees), Oudtshoorn, SA[91]
• Silapha Art Auction, Stellenbosch, SA
• Hermanus FynArts, Hermanus, SA[92][93]
• AKKA Project, Dubai, UAE[94]

2019

• Bridges for Music Art Auction, Cape Town, SA
• Valley Flair Art Auction, Cape Town, SA
• Themba Art Auction, in partnership with Rialheim, Johannesburg, SA
• Phakama Benefit Art Auction, London, UK

2018

• Make a Difference Leadership Foundation, National Liberty Golf Estate, USA
• Phakama Benefit Art Auction, London, UK[95]
• Youngblood Gallery, Cape Town, SA
• The Turbine Art Fair (TAF), Johannesburg, SA
• Little Angels Bespoke Art Auction, Idiom Wine Estate, Cape Town, SA
• Valley Flair Art Auction, Cape Town, SA[96]
• Dennis Goldberg Art Auction, Houtbay, SA[97]
• Bridges for Music Art Auction, Cape Town, SA

2017

• Youngblood Gallery, Cape Town, SA
• Julie Miller Investment Art, Johannesburg, SA
• Turbine Art Fair, Johannesburg, SA
• RED Gallery, Constantia, SA
• S | Gallery, Houtbay, SA
• ISPS Handa Art of Polo Invitational, Val de Vie Estate, SA[98]
• World Art Dubai, Dubai, UAE
• Art Africa Fair, Cape Town, SA
• Valley Flair Auction, Leopards Leap Estate, SA

2016

• Constructing Imagination, solo exhibition, ODA Gallery, Franschhoek, SA[99]
• Art-Noir, The Cape Town Club, Cape Town, SA
• Hermanus FynArts, Benguela Cove, Hermanus, SA
• Make a Difference Leadership Foundation, Manor House Golf Estate, London, UK
• Valley Flair Auction, Pearl Valley Golf Estate, SA
• Breaking Imagination & Deconstructing Countenance, Benguela Cove, Hermanus, SA[100]
• KKNK (Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees), Oudtshoorn, SA
• That Art Fair 2016, The Palms, Woodstock, Cape Town, SA
• Edward Day Gallery, Toronto, Canada
• Jaguar Land Rover, Woordfees, Stellenbosch, SA[101]
• RED Gallery, Constantia, SA
• S | Gallery, Houtbay, SA

2015

• Cavalli Estate, Somerset West, SA[102][103]
• Unique Concepts, The Palms, Woodstock, SA
• The Hunt - Art, Wine, Design, Wunders, Sandton, SA
• World Design Capital Exhibition, Art-Mode, Cape Town, SA
• Horse, Oude Libertas Gallery, Stellenbosch, SA[104]
• KKNK (Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees), Oudtshoorn, SA
• Equus, Cavalli Estate, Somerset West, SA
• Group Exhibition, Youngblood Gallery, Cape Town, SA

2014

• ArtMode & World Design Capital, Youngblood Gallery, Cape Town, SA[105][106]

2013

• Solo exhibition: D Gallery, Muizenburg, SA

2012

• Group Exhibition, Breytenbach Gallery, Wellington, SA
• Group Exhibition, Stellenbosch Art Gallery, Stellenbosch, SA

2010

• Solo exhibition: Juxtapositions, Long Street Gallery, Cape Town, SA

• Make a Difference Leadership Foundation[107][108]
• Bridges for Music[109]
• Hospice[110]
• DARG - Domestic Animal Rescue Group[111]
• Little Angels Home

• Metamorphosis JANKO DE BEER, Creation Wines, 2020
• Constructing Imagination JANKO DE BEER, ODA Gallery, Franschhoek, 2016
• Juxtapositions JANKO DE BEER, Long Street Gallery, Cape Town, 2010

• Official website