Riaan van Zyl, born in 1976, continues to push the boundaries of contemporary art by merging classical techniques with innovative concepts. After studying Contemporary Fine Arts at UNISA, he earned his bachelor’s degree in 2000, marking the beginning of his professional career. Since then, Riaan van Zyl has participated in numerous group exhibitions and has showcased his work in galleries around the world.

“The faster we move, the less we see the details. We are missing the basics,” says Riaan van Zyl. This philosophy lies at the heart of his artistic approach. He pours a dark brown sludgy liquid (old car oil) whose consistency effectively slows time. It is this awareness of motion that he captures through a mix of charcoals and paints on various surfaces. The images layered on top of the oil vibrate with movement, inviting viewers to pause and absorb the intricacies within. “We see our lives in frames per second,” he adds, emphasizing the deliberate tempo of his work.

Drawing inspiration from ordinary surroundings, Riaan van Zyl continuously explores and deepens his understanding of everyday moments. He loves to dismantle commonplace ideas and reimagine their context. His early media experiments included not only old car oil, but captured carbon, anthracite, cobalt salts, and even ink from exhaust fumes.

With a discerning eye and a curious mind, Riaan van Zyl dissects movement and masterfully reassembles its concepts and significance. At first glance, his work may seem abstract or enigmatic, but closer observation reveals a distinctive syntax, punctuation, and rhythm. Each piece becomes a visual performance of movement rather than a conventional drawing.

Riaan van Zyl challenges viewers to see the familiar through a different lens. His work invites the eye to slow down, capturing motion the same way a film played in slow motion reveals hidden layers. The result is a personal and structured composition with a stunning emphasis on movement. Reflected in his work is his tireless experimentation, defining a unique and expressive style.

Riaan van Zyl exhibits both internationally and in his home country of South Africa. His work is included in prestigious private and public collections worldwide. In addition to participating in various group exhibitions with The Travelling Art Gallery, he held a solo exhibition with this artists’ initiative in 2022 in Munich, Germany.

The Artists Gallery is showing Riaan van Zyl’s work in its permanent group exhibtions.