Werner Bronkhorst

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2024

Werner Bronkhorst is a South African born Australian contemporary visual artist. Recognised for his two distinctive styles, with the first involving abstract sculptural backgrounds with hyper-realistic paintings of miniature people and objects and the second involving charcoal drawings of cars with thick text layered on top, Bronkhorst uses social media as a tool to share his artistic process with the world. Bronkhorst was raised in Pretoria, South Africa and began exploring all forms of art at a young age. Primarily drawing inspiration from abstract expressionism, surrealism and pop-culture movements, he began by adapting the works of greats such as Andy Warhol, Willem De Kooning, Keith Haring and Magritte. However, after moving to Sydney in 2020, Bronkhorst’s artistic journey was temporarily diverted as he worked as a bespoke furniture designer and craftsman. It was not until the arrival of his daughter, Florence, in 2022, where his passion for creating art was reignited. Using leftover building materials, Bronkhorst slowly developed a technique whereby thick layers of boldly applied paint are spread over a canvas to create seamlessly three-dimensional backgrounds for his hyper-realistic miniature paintings of people and objects. Bronkhorst’s popularity spiked after he began sharing the raw creation process of this new technique, and by late 2024, his follower base now spans over 1 million and counting. Embracing this independent rise to fame and recognition, Bronkhorst chooses to serve as the artist, manager, exhibitor, and seller of his work, forging his own path in the art world. Primarily naming his collections from the concept of “Drugs, Sex, and Rock and Roll,” Bronkhorst enjoys how the classic, rebellious slogan traditionally associated with the wild, untamed lifestyle of artists juxtaposes with his reality as young father, business owner, and multifaceted artist. As the basis, the names of each collection are then correlated to a certain elements and seasons. The Strokes focused on beach life, whereas White Lines was all about snow, Forbidden Grass was all about sports and park life, and Wet is all about water. These contrasts are both a statement and a strategy — making his art more cheeky, accessible, relatable, and enjoyable. Naturally observant, Bronkhorst gathers his inspiration from his own world. Whether it be through playing with his children, travelling or trying out new activities, he sees the world as a canvas and invites outside viewers to also reflect and imagine themselves as tiny people in a big, abstract world. Werner's charcoal drawings stem from a lifelong fascination with black-and-white photography, particularly the blurred motion of speeding cars. Using only willow charcoal and soft white pastels, Werner expertly crafts dynamic compositions that capture the intensity of movement. Initially, he painted sentences over these drawings, but more recently, he has explored works resembling Polaroids, layering them with messages or quotes that often carry double meanings. Whether you're an art lover or simply someone who appreciates the beauty of people doing what people do, Werner's art is sure to captivate and inspire you.