Dylan Lewis

Dylan Lewis studied at the Cape Technikon, after which he practised as a taxidermist and worked as a museum display artist at the Rondevlei Nature Reserve in Cape Town. Following that, he studied painting at the Ruth Prowse School of Art in Cape Town, moved to a farm near Stellenbosch and built his own studio and bronze foundry. Since 1995, when he first exhibited internationally, he has held numerous exhibitions in South Africa and abroad. His first commission was for 18 life-size leopard sculptures for the Leopards Creek Country Club in Malelane. He has since executed numerous public and private commissions worldwide. Although initially recognised primarily as an animalier, Dylan Lewis's most influential inspiration has been neither the large cats nor animals. Instead, it has always been his rich experience of wilderness areas - to him, timeless places that suggest original and inner freedoms and all that is wild and untamed.

Dylan Lewis studeer aan die Kaapse Technikon en werk as ’n taksidermis en ’n museumtentoonstellingskunstenaar by die Rondevlei Natuurreservaat in Kaapstad. Hy studeer vervolgens skilderkuns aan die Ruth Prowse Kunsskool in Kaapstad, vestig hom op ’n plaas by Stellenbosch en bou sy eie ateljee en bronsgietery.Sedert 1995, nadat hy die eerste keer in Alaska uitgestal het, hou hy verskeie uitstallings in Suid-Afrika en in die buiteland. Sy eerste opdragwerk was vir 18 lewensgrootte luiperds by die Leopards Creek-buiteklub in Malelane. Hy doen sedertdien talle openbare en private opdragwerk dwarsoor die wêreld. Lewis se beelde fokus hoofsaaklik op die katfamilie, en hy word as een van die land se toonaangewendste dierebeeldhouers beskou. Sy empatie met die natuur en alle vorms van lewe kan gesien word in sy vermoë om die wese van nie net roofdiere nie maar ook van die mens en die omgewing uit te beeld. Hy het sy talent uitgebrei na die uitbeelding van die menslike liggaam, veral wat betref die verhouding waarin die mens tot die natuur staan.